(As noted in the Mac instructions, if you ever need to reuse a custom dictionary you’ve saved in a project folder, open Custom Dictionaries and click Add. In the Create Custom Dictionary window, name your dictionary and save it to Word’s default folder or navigate through your files to save it in the folder containing the project. In the Custom Dictionaries window, click New.Ĥ. In the Options window, select Proofing, then click Custom Dictionaries.ģ. Select the File tab from the ribbon, then click Options at the bottom of the lefthand menu.Ģ. Here’s how to create and use a custom dictionary in Microsoft Word.ġ. The spell-checker program then runs much faster and often catches transposed letters in unusual words that can be easy to miss while copyediting. From this style sheet, I create a custom dictionary for the project that way when I run the spell-checker on the manuscript itself, all its unique words already have accepted spellings within the program. This can be avoided by the careful use of custom dictionaries.Īs a copyeditor, I’m responsible for creating a list of names and terms used in a manuscript. Technical manuals and science fiction novels will be overflowing with such words, potentially causing the spell-checker to stop in confusion a few times in every sentence. The spell-checking process can be tedious, however, especially if you’re working on a manuscript filled with names or specialized terms. Running the spell-checker on a manuscript as a final step after you’ve finished an editing or proofreading pass can catch things that have slipped through the cracks.

In the pop-up menu that opens, select Spelling, then the Add to Dictionary option.Although a spell-checker is no substitute for proper editing, it’s a helpful tool for any freelancer.

Right-click the word with a red squiggly line under it.

As you are typing text in the document, any words that Microsoft Word considers to be misspelled have a red squiggly line underneath them.

Click the OK button on each of the open windows to save the dictionary changes.

Click the Add button to add the word to the Microsoft Word dictionary.

Type the word you want to add in the Word(s) text field.

In the Custom Dictionaries window, select the dictionary set as the default dictionary, then click the Edit Word List button.

Under the When correcting spelling in Microsoft Office programs header, make sure the box is unchecked for the Suggest from main dictionary only option.

In the Word Options window, click the Proofing option in the left navigation pane.In the menu bar, click the File tab, then click Options.Add new word through a custom dictionary.

Howt o add a custom dictionary in word