"Add" (word to dictionary) greyed out in MS Word context menu?

[jman...@officeformac.com]

Version: 2008 Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) Processor: Intel The subject line pretty much says it all.
I type a lot of words that are not in the standard MS Word dictionary (like OChem and dodecanol, etc.), and I have the option to "Ignore" and "Ignore All", but "Add" is greyed out and I'd really like to fix that.

Thanks,

Justin

[CyberTaz]

Hi Justin;

Is this a new development or have you never been able to use it? Is Office
fully updated (12.2.3)? Have you repaired disk permissions recently?

The dimmed button normally indicates that you don't have a custom dictionary
for words to be added to - at least not one Word can read. If you already
have a custom dictionary but it isn't being recognized reply for other
suggestions if you want to try recovering it. Otherwise, follow the
suggestions here for creating a new one:

http://word.mvps.org/mac/SpellCheck.html

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

On 11/27/09 10:51 PM, in article 59bad...@webcrossing.JaKIaxP2ac0,

[Jim Gordon Mac MVP]

Hi Justin,

Have you activated Word's custom dictionary? If you haven't, the option
to add words to the dictionary is not available to you.

The follow is an excerpt from page 232 of Office 2008 for Mac All-in-One
For Dummies. It explains how to activate Word's built-in custom
dictionary. You might want to peruse the book for more information about
custom dictionaries, including how to create one of your own and how to
use exiting custom dictionaries. Often, you can find free custom
dictionaries on line for your work or discipline.

1. Choose Word > Preferences
2. Under Authoring and Proofing Tools choose Spelling and Grammar
3. In the Spelling section click the Dictionaries button
4. Select the Custom Dictionary Checkbox
5. Click OK to close the custom dictionary, and then click OK again to
close the Spelling and Grammar preferences pane.

-Jim

--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP
Co-author of Office 2008 for Mac All-in-One For Dummies
http://tinyurl.com/Office-2008-for-Dummies

[jman...@officeformac.com]

> Hi Justin;
>
> Is this a new development or have you never been able to use it? Is Office
> fully updated (12.2.3)? Have you repaired disk permissions recently?
>
> The dimmed button normally indicates that you don't have a custom dictionary
> for words to be added to - at least not one Word can read. If you already
> have a custom dictionary but it isn't being recognized reply for other
> suggestions if you want to try recovering it. Otherwise, follow the
> suggestions here for creating a new one:
>
> http://word.mvps.org/mac/SpellCheck.html
>
> HTH |:>)
> Bob Jones
> [MVP] Office:Mac
>
>
>
> On 11/27/09 10:51 PM, in article 59bad...@webcrossing.JaKIaxP2ac0,

No, I don't have the latest version (only 12.2.0), so I'll download that.

I'll look into the dictionary thing.

Thanks,

Justin

[jman...@officeformac.com]

> Hi Justin,
>
> Have you activated Word's custom dictionary? If you haven't, the option
> to add words to the dictionary is not available to you.
>
> The follow is an excerpt from page 232 of Office 2008 for Mac All-in-One
> For Dummies. It explains how to activate Word's built-in custom
> dictionary. You might want to peruse the book for more information about
> custom dictionaries, including how to create one of your own and how to
> use exiting custom dictionaries. Often, you can find free custom
> dictionaries on line for your work or discipline.
>
> 1. Choose Word > Preferences
> 2. Under Authoring and Proofing Tools choose Spelling and Grammar
> 3. In the Spelling section click the Dictionaries button
> 4. Select the Custom Dictionary Checkbox
> 5. Click OK to close the custom dictionary, and then click OK again to
> close the Spelling and Grammar preferences pane.
>
> -Jim
>
> --
> Jim Gordon
> Mac MVP
> Co-author of Office 2008 for Mac All-in-One For Dummies
> http://tinyurl.com/Office-2008-for-Dummies
>

That did it.
Thanks to all who replied.

Best regards,

Justin