Make the Spell Checker Behave

MAC TIPS

Options for the spell checker are found at the bottom of the Edit menu in Apple applications. You can also turn these features on or off as defaults in the preferences for the application. The menu option will override the default for that document. You'll have a more successful experience with the spell checker by controlling a few of the options:

• Stop automatic corrections while you're working. Under Edit > Spelling and Grammar, the Correct Spelling Automatically > While Typing setting is what makes the text correct itself as you type. If that behavior makes you crazy, uncheck the While Typing option.
• Ignore the spelling temporarily. If the spell checker keeps telling you the same word is misspelled, but you like the word spelled the way it is, click the Ignore button when that word is highlighted by the spell checker. The spell checker will ignore it for this document, but will correct you again in the next document.
• Teach your spell checker new words. Spell checkers typically don't recognize most people's names or jargon specific to different specialties. If you often use a particular word that the spell checker thinks is a mistake (because it's not in the dictionary that the spell checker is using), click the Learn button in the dialog box to add the word to the current dictionary. It will never bother you again. If you're not using the spell checker dialog at the moment, Control-click (or right-click) a word that the spell checker thinks is a mistake (it probably has little red dots under it). In the contextual menu that pops up, click the Learn Spelling option while the word is selected. The spell checker will add that word to its dictionary and not whine about it anymore. If the word is misspelled, spelling suggestions will appear at the top of the contextual menu.

Excerpted from OS X Mountain Lion: Peachpit Learning Series by Lynn Beighley
Picture thanks to toonlet.com/creator/dcannell (Peachpit MAC Tips)