Contents

# Writing aids

Select the user-defined dictionaries and set the rules for checking spelling.

To access this command...

Choose Tools - Spelling, then click Options.

### User-defined dictionaries

Lists the available user dictionaries. Mark the user dictionaries that you want to use for spelling and hyphenation.

#### New

Opens the New Dictionary dialogue box, in which you can name a new user-defined dictionary or dictionary of exceptions and specify the language.

#### New Dictionary

In the Dictionary section you can name a new user-defined dictionary or dictionary of exceptions and specify the language.

#### Name

Specifies the name of the new custom dictionary. The file extension "*.DIC" is automatically appended.

#### Language

By selecting a certain language you can limit the use of the custom dictionary. By selecting All the custom dictionary is used independently of the current language.

#### Exceptions (-)

Specifies whether you wish to avoid certain words in your documents. In this way, you can create a custom dictionary of all the words to be avoided. If this exception dictionary is activated, during spell checking you receive a corresponding note about any words which should be avoided.

#### Edit

Opens the Edit custom dictionary dialogue box, in which you can add to your custom dictionary or edit existing entries.

In the Edit Custom Dictionary dialogue box you have the option to enter new terms or edit existing entries. If you edit an exception dictionary, the dialogue box has the added facility of defining an exception for a word. During the spell check this exception is then listed as a suggestion.

When a dictionary is edited, a check is made on the status of the file. If the file is write-protected, it cannot be changed. The buttons New and Delete are then deactivated.

#### Book

Specifies the book to be edited.

The List of Ignored Words (All) includes all words that have been marked with Ignore during spell check. This list is valid only for the current spell check.

The IgnoreAllList entry cannot be selected and cannot be deleted. Only the words included as content can be deleted. This happens automatically each time that LibreOffice is closed.

#### Language

Assigns a new language to the current custom dictionary.

#### Word

You can type a new word for inclusion in the dictionary. In the list below you will see the contents of the current custom dictionary. If you select a word from this list it is displayed in the text field. If you type a word with a trailing = character, such as "AutoComplete=", the word is never automatically hyphenated and no hyphenation is suggested. Typing "Auto=Complete" results in the word being hyphenated, or a hyphenation suggested, where you insert the = sign.

You can use a [] block instead of the = sign to specify character changes before the hyphenation break. Possible character changes: (1) Extra characters, for example tug[g]gumi results the correct hyphenation “tugg- gummi” of the Swedish word “tuggummi”. (2) Character removing specified by a digit, for example paral·[1]lel results correct hyphenation “paral- lel” of the Catalan word “paral·lel”, removing one character before the break point. (3) Both removed and extra characters, for example cafee[2é]tje results correct hyphenation “café- tje” of the Dutch word “cafeetje”, removing two characters before the break point, and adding an extra one.

#### Replace By or Grammar By

This input field is only available if you are editing an exception dictionary or a language-dependent custom dictionary. In exception dictionaries, the field shows the alternative suggestion for the current word in the "Word" text box. In language-dependent custom dictionaries, the field contains a known root word, as a model of affixation of the new word or its usage in compound words. For example, in a German custom dictionary, the new word “Litschi” (lychee) with the model word “Gummi” (gum) will result recognition of “Litschis” (lychees), “Litschibaum” (lychee tree), “Litschifrucht” (lychee fruit) etc.

#### New

Adds the word in the Word text field to your current custom dictionary. The word in the Suggestion field is also added when working with exception dictionaries.

### Options

Defines the options for spell check and hyphenation.

#### Edit

If you want to change a value, select the entry and then click Edit. You will see a dialogue box for entering a new value.

#### Check upper-case words

Specifies that capitalisation is checked during a spell check.

#### Check words with numbers.

Specifies that words that contain numbers as well as letters are to be checked.

#### Check special regions

Specifies that special regions, such as drawing text, text in headers and footers, document tables, and text frames, are checked during a spell check.

#### Check spelling as you type

Automatically checks spelling as you type, and underlines errors.

Typing errors are highlighted in the document with a red underline. If you place the cursor over a word marked in this way, you can open the context menu to obtain a list of suggested corrections. Select a suggested correction to replace the suspect word with the suggestion. If you make the same mistake again while editing the document, it will be marked as an error again.

To place the word pair in the AutoCorrect replacement table, open the AutoCorrect context menu and choose AutoCorrect. Make your selection from the sub-menu. The word is replaced and at the same time the word pair is placed in the replacement table.

#### Minimum number of characters for hyphenation

Specifies the minimum number of characters required for automatic hyphenation to be applied.

#### Characters before line break

Sets the minimum number of characters of the word to be hyphenated that must remain at the end of the line.

#### Characters after line break

Specifies the minimum number of characters of a hyphenated word required at the next line.

#### Hyphenate without inquiry

Specifies that you will never be prompted for manual hyphenation. If the field is not marked, when a word is not recognised you will be presented with a dialogue box for entering hyphens.

#### Hyphenate special regions

Specifies that hyphenation will also be carried out in footnotes, headers and footers.