Overview

In this age of computers, word processing and spell checks, you are expected to have no spelling mistakes in work which you give to the teacher.

Spell check settings

Microsoft Word has automatic spell checking. As you type, you will occasionally see the order of the letters you have typed change. For example, if you type "teh" , Word automatically changes it to "the".

NOTE this feature can be turned on and off using the Tools menu and Options as shown to the right

Spelling and Grammar settings in Microsoft Word

Correct Spelling while you type

If Microsoft Word does not "understand" the word that has been typed, it underlines it with a red wavy line. This indicates a probable spelling error.

Possible grammatical errors are underlined in green.

To make a correction:

• Right mouse click in the misspelt word or grammatically incorrect wording
• Select an appropriate replacement from the menu (if one is listed)

If the word is correctly spelt you can choose to:

• Ignore this and any further instances of this spelling for this document
  
• Add this word to the computer's dictionary so it will never be listed as a spelling mistake again.
  

CAUTION - before adding a word to the dictionary, ensure that it is spelt correctly. If you add an incorrectly spelt word to the dictionary, it will never be corrected again.

Roll mouse over to see spelling correction

Spell Checking

An alternative to making corrections as you go is to perform a spell check after completing the document. Many programs (spreadsheets, mail programs etc.) operate in this manner.

To perform a spell check:

• select Spelling and Grammar from the Tools menu OR

• press the F7 key

• the dialog box shown to the right appears, permitting you to:

• - ignores just this instance of the word

 

• - ignores ALL instances of this word

 

• adds this word to the dictionary - see the caution described previously

 

• changes just this instance of the spelling mistake to the word selected in the suggestion box

 

• changes ALL instances of the spelling mistake to the word selected in the suggestion box

 

• - stops the spell/grammar check

Microsoft Word spell check

Exercise

Download the Microsoft Word file Spell.doc and perform a spell check.