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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →For an office document, use LibreOffice Writer’s Tools > Spelling command or press F7 to review a selection or the full document. To catch mistakes while typing, turn on Tools > Automatic Spell Checking. For a plain-text file in a terminal, use Aspell’s interactive check mode. In all cases, spelling results depend on having the right language and dictionary installed and assigned.
Choose a spell-checking method
| Use case | Method | How corrections work |
|---|---|---|
| A document in LibreOffice Writer | Tools > Spelling or F7 | Review flagged words and choose a correction, edit the sentence, ignore a word, or add a verified word to a user dictionary. |
| Catch errors as you type in Writer | Tools > Automatic Spell Checking | Writer underlines likely errors; right-click a marked word to choose a suggested correction. |
| A plain-text file from the terminal | Aspell check mode | Review and correct flagged words interactively. |
Check spelling in LibreOffice Writer
Run a full or selection check
- To check only part of the document, select the text. To check the whole document, place the cursor in it without selecting text.
- Choose Tools > Spelling, or press F7.
- When Writer highlights an unknown word, review its suggestions. Choose a correction, edit the sentence, ignore the occurrence, or add the word to a user-defined dictionary if you have verified it is valid.
LibreOffice’s spelling help describes manual checks for a text selection or an entire document. The F7 shortcut and spelling dialog are documented in the Writer Guide.
Turn on live underlining
- In Writer, choose Tools > Automatic Spell Checking.
- As you type, look for underlines beneath words Writer considers likely spelling errors.
- Right-click a marked word and select an appropriate suggestion.
Live underlining is a convenience for catching likely mistakes as you work; use F7 when you want to review the document systematically. See LibreOffice’s spell-checking guidance.
Fix missing or excessive spelling flags
If Writer flags nothing, or marks ordinary words as errors, check the language and dictionary before assuming the document is correct. A dictionary covers a particular language, and the text must be assigned a language that matches the dictionary you intend to use. LibreOffice identifies Hunspell as a supported spelling module in its Writer Guide.
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- Confirm that Tools > Automatic Spell Checking is enabled if you expect underlining while typing.
- Check the language assigned to the text. For example, select the intended English variant rather than relying on a different language setting.
- In LibreOffice’s language and writing-aids settings, confirm that the corresponding dictionary or Hunspell module is installed and enabled.
- If LibreOffice asks you to restart or reload after changing language modules, do so.
- Test with a deliberately misspelled word, then press F7 to check the document.
Do not add every unfamiliar word to a dictionary. Add only verified names, domain terms, or abbreviations; adding an error can cause it to be accepted in future checks.
Spell-check a text file from the terminal
Aspell provides an interactive command-line spelling checker and dictionary-management functions. Install Aspell and the appropriate language dictionary through your Linux distribution’s package manager, then run Aspell’s check mode on the text file you want to review.
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Package names and installation commands vary by distribution, so use the package manager and package names documented for your own Linux release. This route is for plain-text files; for a formatted Writer document, use Writer so you can review spelling in the document itself.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why a spell checker can miss errors
A spelling checker compares words with a language dictionary; it does not establish whether a sentence is factually correct or whether a correctly spelled word is the one you meant. Review suggestions in context, and manually inspect names and specialized terminology that may not appear in the selected dictionary.
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