Special Edition Using Microsoft® Office XP

Checking Spelling and Grammar

Word contains one of the most sophisticated spell checkers you can find. The spell-checking module, which Word shares with the rest of Office, contains rich tools for custom dictionaries and "exclude" dictionaries, and easy right-click access to suggested spellings for words highlighted with the infamous red squiggly line.

→ To find out how to supercharge Word's spell checker, see "Setting Up Spell-Checking Options".

Some people find the red squiggly lines distracting—as if they're being forced to correct spelling mistakes as they type. Word includes a batch spell checker, so you can turn off the squiggly lines and run a spell check after you're done typing. To turn off the squiggly lines, choose Tools, Options, ...