How to Use the Msword Spellchecker in Spanish

How to use the MSWord SpellChecker in Spanish

MSWord 2003 (MsWord 2007/10 Instructions are in paranthesis)

1)  Type your composition. (if you want to "check as you go" just type a few words first)

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2)  Highlight all the text (using your mouse, CTRL-A or use the edit menu)

3)  Click Tools, Language, and Set Language MSWord 2007: The Set Language option is under “ Review” MSWord2010: “Set proofing options”

4)  Set the language to the appropriate language. For Spanish, I recommend Spanish (Spain –International,Traditional or Modern Sort) (MSWord2007: International Sort) as the most accurate. Some of the other spell checkers are not as accurate, and it may select the wrong one (or the wrong language entirely). UNCHECK the boxes that say “detect automatically” and “do not check”, and say OK.

5)  Click on the spell checker logo (ABC with a checkmark) to begin checking spelling,

6)  Click options, and set “grammar” options to “grammar and style” (in Spanish: gramática y estilo)

7)  If you wish to change a word to the suggested option, simply click change. If you wish to leave the word as it is, simply click ignore. (just as you would with an English Spell Checker).

8)  Reminder - you need to evaluate the suggestions given by the spell checker - it is a machine and therefore imperfect – just as the English Spell checker is – trust your knowledge, not the machines.Also remember: computers can fail – keep copies of all your electronic documents- I recommend using your v: drive storage, with a backup copy on a thumb drive or second computer.

9)  To test the spell check, open the document enitled “SpellCheckPractice”. Run the spell check following the procedures above.

Spell checker should find:

1.  Yo estoy triste

2.  La silla es azul

3.  Clase Is misspelled.

4.  There should be accentos on está and aquí – however, esta is a legitimate word, so spell checker ignores it –you have to catch that one.

5.  Me coche está aqui – spell checker again omits me and estas, and leaves me instead of mi becuase its a legitimate word.

The very incorrect words in the last sentence should be highlighted.

The last paragraph is what you might find in your own composition