Yes, this is a relatively common problem. It usually means that the text of
the document is marked with a language that you do not have installed, or
that you have set a language on your custom dictionary.
Having renamed your custom dictionary, you then need to create and activate
a new one, as explained in the Help under "Add a custom dictionary".
That might be all that is wrong: your old one was corrupt, and when you add
a new one, it may just work.
If not:
Languages must match exactly: "English" is not the same as "English UK" or
"English US".
If the custom dictionary is set to a language, it will take additions ONLY
from text marked with the same language.
If you have more than one custom dictionary, you must ensure that each of
them is made active. If you do have more than one, make sure the one for
the language you usually use is the top one in the list, because that is the
one used by applications other than Word.
1) Use Tools>Language to check the language on your text.
2) Make sure it is a language you have installed.
3) REMOVE the language setting (to "No language") on your custom dictionary
if you work in only one language, otherwise set a custom dictionary up for
each language you do work in and make sure the last one in the list is set
to "no language". That enables Word to add the word to the appropriate
dictionary if you have one, or the last dictionary for "everything else".
Hope this helps
I use Office 2003 and Windows XP service pack 2.
Recently when using spell check in both Outlook 2003 and Word 2003 I
am unable to add a word to the dictionary. Spell check correctly
identifies mis-spelled words and offers suggestions but the "Add to
Dictionary" button is grayed out.
I have renamed the custom dictionary to CUSTOM.DIC.OLD, hoping that
would fix the problem, with no luck.
Has anyone else encounted this?
Thanks.
--
Don't wait for your answer, click here:
http://www.word.mvps.org/
Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.
John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:
[email protected]