How do i spell check

[timeout1]

Hi everyone, can anyone help me please, i have just started a college course, and i have to do my homework on my computer in word processor, but can not get my computer to spellcheck my work, i tried clicking on ABC in the toolbar, with no luck, i hit the F7 key and it says spellcheck complete, yet i know there are spelling mistakes, but they are not corrected, i haven't a clue how to do the spellchecking, ( i am using windows vista,) i just don't know what to do next. I WILL BE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL IF ANYONE CAN HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. I am not very knowledgeable about computers. ( i am using Windows Vista thanks Ray.

[Fay Mousse]

Hi Ray, which wordprocessor are you using?

[bimbo123456]

Are you at the end of your work? To allow spellcheck to work you have to be at the beginning. I usually go to Tools and then spellcheck. Good luck. Be aware that it will try to give american spelling on some computers!!!!

[Buenchico]

Microsoft Word should, by default, automatically spell check as you type. i.e. a squiggly red line should appear under any suspect words. If that's not happening, go to Tools > Options and click on the 'Spelling and Grammar' tab. Then click 'Options'. Click to ensure that there's a tick alongside 'Check spelling as I type' and click 'OK'.

When Microsoft Word finds a suspect word, it tries to work out what the user might have meant. For example, if I type 'chek', Word thinks that I might mean cheek, check, cheeky, cheeks or chic. Word can't decide what word to substitute; it's up to me to choose the correct option.

When you see a word underlined in red, right-click on it. You'll see a list of the options offered by Word. Click on the correct one to insert it.

Chris

[timeout1]

Hi Fay mousse,
i am using something called ABIWORD PROCESSOR

[timeout1]

Chris thanks for your answer,
i will try that
Ray

[timeout1]

bimbo i cant get it to spellchec at all begining or end.
Ray

[Buenchico]

AbiWord is fairly similar to Microsoft Word, so much of my post should hold true.

However, some spell checkers require you to select the area of text to be checked before they'll do anything. Try clicking Edit > Select All (which will highlight all of the text in your document) before clicking the ABC button.

Chris

[timeout1]

Chris,
i tried what you said, but it did not give me the option of SPELLING AND GRAMMAR, But in tools menu there is something called ispell options, i clicked that , and the spell as you type was tlicked. but a box appeared saying could not load dictionary uk

[timeout1]

Chris sorry to be a pest i have tried that also with no joy
Ray.

[Buenchico]

If you're getting a 'can't load dictionary' message it either means that the dictionary file isn't present or there's a fault with your AbiWord installation.

I've been trying to make sense of the information on the AbiWord website (and on the links that it leads you to). Although I'm reasonably 'technically minded', it's all way beyond me.

The simplest solution would seem to be to switch to a better word processor. If you've not got Microsoft Word, the most popular (free) option is the word processor within the OpenOffice suite:
http://download.openoffice.org/
You have to download the US version and then install the British dictionary:
http://ftp.services.openoffice.org/pub/OpenOff ice.org/contrib/dictionaries/en_GB-oed.zip

Chris

[timeout1]

Chris thanks for going to all that trouble for me, it really is appreciated. i will try the free option you suggest, later as i have to fetch my wife from work now, but i will let you know
when i do if i am successful
thanks again Ray.

[sir.prize]

Hello Ray. Another well-proved method is to download the Google toolbar. It includes an ABC check. And lots of other useful buttons. Then all you have to do when your document is open, is place your cursor at the beginning of your text, click on ABC Check and the spellcheck will work fine. Good luck

[Postdog]

Sorry to sort of hijack the thread, but isn't it a refreshing change for those who have actually taken the time and trouble to help to be thanked for once. Doesn't happen a lot, so well done for that!

[timeout1]

sir prize thanks for that, its another option for me
Ray

[Ethel]

Unfortunately the Google toolbar spell check only works when you are typing on a web form, web email or web documents.

It doesn't work in non-web based applications such as Abiword.

I like OpenOffice - been using it for years.

[timeout1]

Hi chris,
just to let you know, i have download open office ,
and it works fine. i am really pleased.
Thanks again Chris, and everyone who took the time to reply to my post. Ray.