How to Delete Words from Custom Dictionaries in Word (86557)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0a
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0b
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0c
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 6.0a
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 6.0c
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95 7.0a
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
This article was previously published under Q86557

SUMMARY

In Microsoft Word for Windows, you can customize the spelling dictionary by adding words not contained in the main dictionary. Added words are stored in a text file with the default file name Custom.dic. This article explains how to delete words from a custom dictionary.

MORE INFORMATION

Word 7.x, 97

To delete words from a custom dictionary in Word 7.0 or 97, do the following:

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  2. Click the Spelling And Grammar tab (Spelling tab in Word 7.x).
  3. Click the Dictionaries button.
  4. Select the customer dictionary you want to edit and then click Edit.

    The custom dictionary file will automatically appear in a Word document.
  5. Remove the undesired word form the dictionary file.
  6. On the File menu, click Save.
To add other custom dictionaries:

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  2. Click the Spelling And Grammar tab (Spelling tab in Word 7).
  3. Click the Dictionaries button.
  4. Click the Add button in the custom dictionaries dialog.
  5. A custom dictionary can have any name with any extension.

Word 6.0

To delete words from a custom dictionary in Word 6.0, do the following:

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  2. Click the Spelling tab.
  3. Select the custom dictionary you want to edit and then click Edit.

    The custom dictionary file will automatically appear in a Word document.
  4. Remove the undesired word from the dictionary file.
  5. On the File menu, click Save.
To add other custom dictionaries:

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  2. Click the Spelling tab.
  3. Click the Add button in the custom dictionary section.
  4. You can name a custom dictionary any name with any extension you'd like. The only restriction is that you stay with the 8.3 MS-DOS naming convention when using Word 6.x for Windows.

Word 2.x

To delete words in the Custom.dic file:

  1. Open Custom.dic with a text editor, such as Microsoft Windows Notepad.
  2. Locate the undesired word and delete it as you would any text.
  3. Save the Custom.dic file.
The spelling checker will no longer reference the word.

To add a custom dictionary:

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  2. Under Category, click Spelling.
  3. Under Custom Dictionaries, click Add.
  4. Type a name for the dictionary in the Add Dictionary dialog box, then click the OK button.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/16/2005
Keywords:kbproof KB86557
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