Remove Words from Dictionary on Mac OS X - Easy Guide
Managing the macOS System Dictionary
The majority of applications designed for macOS leverage the operating system’s built-in spell check functionality. These applications also utilize a shared, system-wide personal dictionary.
Consequently, any custom word you introduce into this dictionary within one application will be recognized by other macOS apps, preventing future misidentification as a typographical error.
Removing Words from the System Dictionary
However, a straightforward method for deleting a word from the dictionary isn't immediately apparent if an entry is added unintentionally.
It’s important to note that not all Mac applications function this way.
Application-Specific Dictionaries
Certain programs, like Microsoft Word and the broader Microsoft Office suite, maintain their own independent dictionaries. The system dictionary sharing feature does not extend to these applications.
Cross-Platform Application Behavior
Despite this, a significant number of applications, including those available on multiple platforms such as Google Chrome, are configured to utilize the macOS system dictionary.
This means that changes made to the system dictionary will affect the spell checking within these cross-platform apps.
Understanding which applications rely on the system dictionary versus those with their own is key to managing spell check behavior on your Mac.
Removing Recently Added Words from Your macOS Dictionary
macOS offers a straightforward method for deleting a word you’ve recently added to your dictionary. However, the functionality relies on applications actively supporting the “remove word” feature, which isn’t universally implemented.
Regardless of the application where the word was initially added—provided it was added to the system dictionary, a common occurrence—it can be quickly removed using TextEdit.
Related: Mastering macOS Spotlight Search.
Consider a scenario where you inadvertently added "teh" to your dictionary within Google Chrome for Mac, instead of correcting it to "the." Consequently, Chrome and other macOS applications will cease to flag "teh" as a misspelling.
To rectify this, launch the TextEdit application. Initiate Spotlight search by pressing Command+Space, type "TextEdit," and then press Enter. Alternatively, navigate to the Finder, select "Applications," and double-click "TextEdit."
Within TextEdit, create a new document by selecting the "New Document" option.
Type the misspelled word into TextEdit, or copy and paste it from the application where it was originally added. Then, either Ctrl-click or right-click on the word. Select "Unlearn spelling" from the context menu to remove the word from your personal dictionary.
Afterward, close TextEdit and choose "Delete" when prompted to save the changes to the document. Saving the empty document isn't necessary.
Ideally, more macOS applications would incorporate this feature directly. The functionality was introduced in Mac OS X 10.7, and its implementation remains optional for other applications. Many applications, including Google Chrome, haven’t yet included the "Unlearn Spelling" option.
Therefore, if you accidentally add a word to your dictionary in numerous Mac applications, TextEdit is the place to go. If the "Unlearn Spelling" option isn't visible when right-clicking or Ctrl-clicking a word, open TextEdit.
Viewing and Modifying Your Personalized Word List
Suppose you've inadvertently added misspelled words to your custom dictionary and are unsure of their identities. Alternatively, you might have previously added terms and no longer recall them all. Mac OS X, unfortunately, lacks a dedicated preferences panel for managing your personalized dictionary. However, this data is preserved within a text file that you can directly modify.
Initially, locating this file is necessary. It resides within the typically concealed Library folder, and its location varies for each user account. To access it, initiate a Finder window. Then, from the "Go" menu, choose "Go to Folder."
Input the following path and click the "Go" button:
~/Library/Spelling
This action will navigate you to the /Users/USERNAME/Library/Spelling directory.
Within this folder, you will find a file named "LocalDictionary." Open it using TextEdit by either Ctrl-clicking or right-clicking the file, selecting "Open With," and then choosing "TextEdit."
The file will display a list of words. If you haven't previously added any custom words, the file will be empty. Each word is listed on a separate line.
To eliminate entries from your dictionary, simply delete them from the list. You have the option to clear the entire dictionary or remove specific words as needed. It's important to ensure that each remaining word occupies its own line.
Once you've completed your edits, select "Save" from the "File" menu. Subsequently, you can close TextEdit.
It's worth noting that this method functions only with applications utilizing the system-wide spell check dictionary, which is the case for most applications on a Mac. However, if an application employs its own independent dictionary—as is common with Microsoft Office applications—it should provide built-in options for dictionary management within its Preferences settings.
For instance, in Word 2016 for Mac, navigate to File > Options > Proofing > Custom Dictionaries and click "Edit Word List" to modify your custom dictionary.