Exclude Words from Spellcheck in Word - A Simple Guide
Understanding Spelling Exclusion Lists in Word
A spelling exclusion list functions as a directive to Microsoft Word, enabling you to designate specific words as misspelled, even if they are recognized within the primary dictionary. We will detail the process of creating a personalized list of terms that Word will consistently identify as errors.
Consider a scenario where you frequently mistype “suing” instead of “using,” or “parent” in place of “patent.” The standard spell checker might accept these as valid words, despite your intended meaning. Alternatively, you might adhere to particular style guides that favor specific spellings, such as “theatre” over “theater.” In such cases, adding “suing,” “parent,” and “theater” to the exclusion list ensures they are always flagged as potential misspellings.
How Exclusion Lists Work
It’s important to note that flagging a word as misspelled doesn’t automatically correct it. Should you intentionally use one of these words, you retain the option to disregard the flag during spell check. Essentially, the exclusion list provides a method for “removing” words from Word’s core dictionary, albeit indirectly.
These exclusion lists are stored as simple text files. They can be readily edited using any text editor, including Notepad, or even within Word itself, provided you save the file in a text-only format. Upon installing Word, at least one such file is generated, initially empty and awaiting your additions.
On a Windows 10 system, these files are typically located in the following directory. Remember to substitute “Lori” with your actual user name:
C:\Users\Lori\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\UProof
The exact location may vary depending on your Windows version. If you’re unsure, utilize the File Explorer search function to locate the files. They will all begin with “ExcludeDictionary” and conclude with the “.lex” extension. A search for “ExcludeDictionary*.lex” should reveal them.
Identifying the Correct Exclusion List File
You may encounter multiple exclusion list files. The file naming convention provides clues to determine the appropriate one. The core of the file name incorporates a two-letter language code, such as “EN” for English or “FR” for French.
Following the language code is a four-digit alphanumeric (hexadecimal) identifier known as a “language LCID.” This specifies the dialect of the language the exclusion file pertains to. Comprehensive lists of language LCID codes are available, though they may not always include the corresponding language codes. Conversely, lists of language codes exist, but may lack the completeness of the LCID lists.
We identified two files on our system, as illustrated below. We only had one English file, but multiple files with “EN” in the name are possible. In such instances, examine the last four characters of the file name (before the extension) and cross-reference them with a list of language LCID codes to pinpoint the correct file. In our case, “EN” denotes English, and “0409” represents the language LCID for United States English, leading us to select “ExcludeDictionaryEN0409.lex”.
Editing the Exclusion List
Once you’ve located the correct exclusion list file, right-click it and choose “Open with” from the context menu.
A dialog box will appear, prompting you to select an application. Click “More apps”.
Scroll down the list and select “Notepad”. To consistently use Notepad for editing “.lex” files, check the “Always use this app to open .lex files” box and then click “OK”.
The exclusion list file will open, initially blank. Enter the words you wish to exclude, placing each word on a separate line. Include all variations of the word you want Word to flag. For instance, we added multiple forms of “theater” and “parent”.
Save the file after adding your desired terms.
If Word was open during the editing process, close and reopen it to ensure the changes are recognized.
Using the Exclusion List
When words from the exclusion list are encountered during a spell check, you may not be able to directly select the correct spelling. However, if automatic spell checking is enabled while typing, red squiggly lines will appear beneath the excluded words, alerting you to their presence and allowing for manual correction if needed.
Related: How to Limit Spell Checking to the Main Dictionary Only in Word
Custom dictionaries offer another method for tailoring Word’s spell check. These files allow you to add words not found in the main dictionary, preventing them from being flagged as errors. Alternatively, you can restrict spell checking to the main dictionary alone, which is useful if you have custom dictionaries you wish to temporarily disable without deleting them.