Custom dictionary weirdness

[RobertB]

I'm using Word (Office) 2004 on an Intel Mac, although this behavior
appears in Word X as well. I often add words to the custom dictionary
for my work. However, every time the words appear as alternates in the
spell check window (when doing a spell check) they show up with spaces
between syllables. In other words, if I add the word "disagree" to the
dictionary, it will show up as "dis agree" and be entered into the
document that way, with a space between the syllables. Why? Becuase it
basically renders the custom dictionary useless.

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

That is a weird one! And a brand new problem, I think.

I would think it might have something to do with Hyphenation. If you
open a document that shows the problem, and go to Tools | Hyphenation,
is "automatically hyphenate document" checked? Does unchecking it
change the behavior?

Also, can you create a new user account on the computer and tell us
whether you see the same strange behavior using Word in that account?

I'm a bit confused, though--if Word is suggesting alternates in the
spellcheck dialog, then there should be no need for you to Add these
words to the Custom Dictionary, as Word already knows those words. Are
the random spaces showing up in the top half of the spellcheck dialog,
as in Word is inserting them into your existing text that it flags as
incorrect? Or do you see them in the bottom half of the dialog, under
Suggestions?

 

[RobertB]

That is a weird one! And a brand new problem, I think.

I would think it might have something to do with Hyphenation. If you
open a document that shows the problem, and go to Tools | Hyphenation,
is "automatically hyphenate document" checked? Does unchecking it
change the behavior?

Hyphenation is turned off. Always has been, in all versions of Word I
use.

Also, can you create a new user account on the computer and tell us
whether you see the same strange behavior using Word in that account?

What would this have to do with OS X? I can create a new user account,
but I don't think that's called for. I have found the same behavior in
Word on two iMacs, a G4 and a core2duo in both Word X and Word 2004.

I'm a bit confused, though--if Word is suggesting alternates in the
spellcheck dialog, then there should be no need for you to Add these
words to the Custom Dictionary, as Word already knows those words. Are

These are words that I added but were not in the standard dictionary. If
I open one of my custom dictionaries, the words are all spelled closed,
by the way.

the random spaces showing up in the top half of the spellcheck dialog,

No. The bottom half, where you get a list of words to substitute.

as in Word is inserting them into your existing text that it flags as
incorrect? Or do you see them in the bottom half of the dialog, under
Suggestions?

Yes, under Suggestions. Maybe I can do a screen capture the next time it
occurs.

 

[RobertB]

That is a weird one! And a brand new problem, I think.

I would think it might have something to do with Hyphenation. If you
open a document that shows the problem, and go to Tools | Hyphenation,
is "automatically hyphenate document" checked? Does unchecking it
change the behavior?

Also, can you create a new user account on the computer and tell us
whether you see the same strange behavior using Word in that account?

I'm a bit confused, though--if Word is suggesting alternates in the
spellcheck dialog, then there should be no need for you to Add these
words to the Custom Dictionary, as Word already knows those words. Are
the random spaces showing up in the top half of the spellcheck dialog,
as in Word is inserting them into your existing text that it flags as
incorrect? Or do you see them in the bottom half of the dialog, under
Suggestions?

Hmm. What I think is happening is that Word is simply guessing at words
I haven't entered and is suggesting things like "Madras a" for a word
like "madrasa." It's possible I didn't enter as many of them as I
thought I had. Let me keep checking 'cause I know I'm not dreaming.

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

What would this have to do with OS X? I can create a new user account,
but I don't think that's called for. I have found the same behavior in
Word on two iMacs, a G4 and a core2duo in both Word X and Word 2004.

Side clarification--this is a standard diagnostic approach, as if it
works in another user account, it suggests some of the user-specific
settings in Word have gone awry and tells us where to look. It doesn't
say anything about OS X. I forgot you said you saw this in two
computers when I suggested that--and actually, since one person can
easily transfer setting files from one computer to another, the same
person seeing it on two computers does not rule out that approach.

Response on real issue coming later.

Daiya

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Hmm. What I think is happening is that Word is simply guessing at words
I haven't entered and is suggesting things like "Madras a" for a word
like "madrasa." It's possible I didn't enter as many of them as I
thought I had. Let me keep checking 'cause I know I'm not dreaming.

I get that also with madrasa, and the suggestion mechanism certainly
behaves like that, sometimes quite idiotically. And you said the custom
dictionary didn't actually have any spaces added to it. We'll assume
it's solved unless/until you post back with more information.

Daiya

 

[RobertB]

Side clarification--this is a standard diagnostic approach, as if it
works in another user account, it suggests some of the user-specific
settings in Word have gone awry and tells us where to look. It doesn't
say anything about OS X. I forgot you said you saw this in two
computers when I suggested that--and actually, since one person can
easily transfer setting files from one computer to another, the same
person seeing it on two computers does not rule out that approach.

Well, they are two different versions of Office.

 

[RobertB]

Response on real issue coming later.

[/QUOTE]

By the way, something I did notice yesterday is that occasionally the
spelling window where the available choices are listed fails to update.
For some reason, it will get stuck at one set of word choices even
though I've moved on to new words (pressed Ignore, for example). I have
to quit the spell checker and open it again.

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

By the way, something I did notice yesterday is that occasionally the
spelling window where the available choices are listed fails to update.
For some reason, it will get stuck at one set of word choices even
though I've moved on to new words (pressed Ignore, for example). I have
to quit the spell checker and open it again.

Yeah, that's a known issue in Word 2004. Previous reports suggest it
should only happen with longish documents (60+ pages?), and when you
have used Change All at some point in the process. One person linked it
to Spanish-language tagging. We'd be interested to know what type of
documents you are seeing it with.

I assume you are fully updated? Word 2004 draws the screen differently
than earlier versions, and there were a number of screen-refresh-related
problems, some of which got improved in various updates. I don't recall
this one being fixed, though. Not using Change All may prevent it from
happening (Find and Replace could be a substitute).

It's been reported, but if you use Help | Send Feedback in Word and
complain, that may help push it up the priority list.

Daiya

 

[RobertB]

Yeah, that's a known issue in Word 2004. Previous reports suggest it
should only happen with longish documents (60+ pages?), and when you
have used Change All at some point in the process. One person linked it
to Spanish-language tagging. We'd be interested to know what type of
documents you are seeing it with.

Long document. About 220 pages. I don't use Spanish, but I have French
and Italian dictionaries installed, although I wasn't using either
actively in this document.

I assume you are fully updated? Word 2004 draws the screen differently
than earlier versions, and there were a number of screen-refresh-related
problems, some of which got improved in various updates. I don't recall
this one being fixed, though. Not using Change All may prevent it from
happening (Find and Replace could be a substitute).

Yup, all updates have been applied.

It's been reported, but if you use Help | Send Feedback in Word and
complain, that may help push it up the priority list.

Had forgotten about that. Actually, didn't know it was there. <g>
Thx.

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Long document. About 220 pages. I don't use Spanish, but I have French
and Italian dictionaries installed, although I wasn't using either
actively in this document.

Yeah, 220 pages fits the pattern, regardless of language. Nothing to be
done, so far as I know, except stop using Change All.

Thanks for confirming it hasn't been fixed in an update, I hadn't
checked lately.

Had forgotten about that. Actually, didn't know it was there. <g>

I find it's nice for blowing off steam, even if I have to be formal to
keep it from getting swallowed by a filter.

Daiya