News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

August 8, 2008

software

Dictionary Cleaner keeps tabs on your custom spelings

Posted Aug. 8, ’08, 7:14 AM PT by Scott McNulty
Category | Software

dictionarycleaner.jpgAs you no doubt know, OS X ships with a dictionary that powers its built-in spellchecker. You might not know that you can ‘teach’ OS X’s spellchecker words that it is not familiar with, much like you can with a local street urchin. Adding a custom spelling to the spellcheck (like your last name, perhaps) creates a user-specific custom dictionary. The more spellings you add, the larger it gets.

This is great and all, but what if you’re curious as to what spellings have accumulated in that custom dictionary? Two AM Software’s free preference pane, Dictionary Cleaner, makes adding and deleting entries in your custom dictionary a breeze. After you install Dictionary Cleaner you’ll notice a new icon in your System Preferences called, oddly enough, Dictionary Cleaner. Click on it, and you’re greeted with a simple interface that lists whatever words you currently have in your Mac’s custom dictionary (if you don’t have any custom spellings, Dictionary Cleaner creates a blank custom dictionary for you).

Keep in mind that not all apps use Leopard’s built in spellchecker (Microsoft Office, for example, has its own spellchecker with a separate dictionary) so Dictionary Cleaner won’t be able to help with those custom entries.

Dictionary Cleaner is free, and requires OS X 10.5 or higher.

Oh, and yes the typo in the title was on purpose. (Get it? Isn’t that a hoot?).


5 Comments

pumpkinwhite said:

A blog about spell-checking and you got a misspelt word in the title!!. "Dictionary Cleaner keeps tabs on your custom 'spelings'". The irony made me smile :)

August 8, 2008 8:23 AM
Dan Moren Author Profile Page said:

@pumpkinwhite Ah, but Scott is far too clever for that. As he pointed out in the last line, that was an intentional joke. ;)

August 8, 2008 9:23 AM
Snorfalorpagus said:

It'd be nice if the app provided a quick way to import/export a custom dictionary.

August 8, 2008 9:58 AM
Gianni Chiappetta Author Profile Page said:

Do you know if these dictionaries are propagated to the iPhone? Cause I can't remember the last time I've wanted to "duck" someone, or wanted someone to eat "shiv"...

August 8, 2008 10:34 AM
Anonymous said:

(pumpkinwhite here, in case my name does not show up)

oops.. sorry Scott. I didn't read the blog all the way through. I should have known better.

Btw, even when i sign in to post a comment, it shows my name as 'Anonymous'. I mailed typekey support, and they said i should contact you guys. Here is their reply -

"This problem is an issue with the site you are visiting; and you will need to contact the weblog owner and let them know about the trouble you are having, as this is a weblog configuration issue that we cannot resolve on their behalf."


August 8, 2008 11:45 AM

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