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Free Tech Support: How can I add a system-wide spell-checker?
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do, go ahead and post it. We won't take it personally.Today's question:
I'm a horrible speller. I embarrass myself on a daily basis blogging, posting comments and in IM with my inability to spell even simple words. Are these system level spell checkers? I have a spell check for Firefox already.
I use the Spellbound plugin for Firefox and IESpell for Internet Explorer, and that pretty much covers me. But I do understand that some people use apps other than browsers, and that they might need a universal spell-checker for those. One option is the AutoSpell Suite, which adds spell-checking to just about any program. At $34.95, it might seem a little expensive for a one-trick app, but that's a pretty good trick, considering it adds as-you-type spell-checking and a thesaurus to just about any Windows application. (Fortunately, the default setting, which pops up a list of suggestions every time you type a word, can be disabled.) If you want a free solution, check out Aspell, a GPL-licensed open-source program, which comes in flavors for Windows and Linux and has dictionaries in over 20 languages from Breton to Ukranian. FreeSpell provides something of a GUI for Aspell, though you still do the actual spell-checking in a DOS box.
If you're on a Mac, you'll find that the cocoAspell service implements Aspell very cleanly, though only in apps that support services. Of course, OSX 10.4 also includes a built-in dictionary app that works with many programs, so you may not even need a third-party application.
Comments
13
Subscribe to commentsScott ReynenOct 3rd 2005 1:55PM
OSX has had built-in system wide spellchecking since the first version. The dictionary application only adds the ability to lookup definitions. Textpander is a nice OSX tool for system-wide automatic spelling correction.
TwistOct 3rd 2005 10:05PM
Mac OS X has had a built-in spell checker since it shipped. The problem with it is that you have to enable it. In most cocoa applications if you control+click or right click on a text input field there should be an option for spelling.
Godfrey DanielOct 3rd 2005 2:03PM
tinySpell
ShockeymoeOct 3rd 2005 2:54PM
WordWeb http://wordweb.info/
Go to the free download. Buy it after you fall in love.
JeffOct 3rd 2005 3:17PM
I like Spell Catcher.
SamirOct 3rd 2005 8:46PM
I use tiny spell...It checks every word you type, regardless of where you type it and dings everytime you mispell a word, you click on the icon in the systray and replaces it with a correct word from the list of suggestions. Can't remember the site, i'm sure you can just search for it.
CuprohastesOct 3rd 2005 11:21PM
There's also As-U-Type, a universal spell check and typo fixer for Windows.
TimOct 4th 2005 1:20AM
For Windows, I highly recommend Microspell. Interface takes a little gettin used to, but once you do, it is very fast and powerful. http://www.microspell.com/
qu4nm1n9Oct 4th 2005 5:40AM
wow, i've been thinking of a os-integrated spell checker too.. then all programs and applications can be written to run with the spell checker?
EricOct 4th 2005 9:38AM
You might want to try www.answers.com. It started as Atomica and eventually became GuruNet. And it's free.
EricOct 4th 2005 9:40AM
You might want to try www.answers.com. It started as Atomica and eventually became GuruNet. And it's free.
Utter DoulOct 4th 2005 12:55PM
I use an AutoHotKey script which I coded with commonly misspelled words (I got the list off the internet) to auto-replaced; works great for me.
ThayneOct 5th 2005 7:45AM
for mac users, there is already a very nice built-in spell checker that few people know about. no it's not the dictionary app. To try this out, start typing a word then press "option-esc". You'll get a nice, slim, pop-up menu of about 50 words. Once you start to use this, it is very indispensable!! (I just used it to spell that word haha). Also, try putting the cursor over a word and press command-ctrl-D and then hold down command-ctrl as you mouse over words. you'll get real-time pop ups of dictionary entries. This is nice to check if the word you spelled is actually the right word!