Checking Spelling

As you type, a red wavy line appears under words not listed in PowerPoint's dictionary (such as misspellings, names, technical terms, or acronyms) or duplicate words (such as the the). You can correct these errors as they arise or after you finish the entire presentation. PowerPoint's spelling checker checks the spelling of the entire presentation, including all slides, outlines, notes pages, and handout pages. You can use the Spelling button on the Review tab to check the entire presentation using the Spelling dialog box, or when you encounter a wavy red line under a word, you can right-click the word and choose the correct spelling or add it to your custom dictionary from the list on the shortcut menu.

Check Spelling All at Once

Click the Review tab.

Click the Spelling button.

Timesaver

To open the Spelling dialog box, right-click a misspelled word, and then click Spelling.

If the Spelling dialog box opens, choose an option:

• Click Ignore to skip the word, or click Ignore All to skip every instance of the word.

• Click a suggestion, and then click Change or Change All.

• Select the correct word, and then click AutoCorrect to add it to the AutoCorrect list.

• Click Add to add a word to your dictionary, so it doesn't show up as a misspelled word in the future.

• If no suggestion is appropriate, click in the presentation and edit the text yourself. Click Resume to continue.

PowerPoint will prompt you when the spelling check is complete, or you can click Close to end the spelling check.

Correct Spelling as You Type

Right-click a word with a red wavy underline.

Timesaver

In the Spelling dialog box, click Options.

Choose an option:

• Click the correct spelling.

• Click Ignore All to skip any other instances of the word

• Click Add to Dictionary to include it in your custom dictionary.

See Also

See "Changing Proofing Options" on page 275 for information on setting options to correct spelling as you type.

Did You Know?

You can make spell check ignore text or an entire style. Select the word or phrase that you want to mark. Click the Review tab, click the Set Language button, select the Do not check spelling check box, and then click OK.

You can mark a word as a foreign language word. If spell check identifies correct words as misspellings, the words might not be identified with the correct language. Select the foreign word or phrase that you want to mark. Click the Review tab, click the Set Language button, click the foreign language, and then click OK.