Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated November 3, 2018)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
Leonard has received a message that his custom dictionary is full. He wonders if he can expand it or find a way to use the CUSTOM2.DIC file that his copy of Word doesn't seem to recognize.
There's a good chance that the custom dictionary isn't really full; Word sometimes gives this message in error. Word MVP Suzanne Barnhill discusses this error a bit at her website and provides a link to the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
http://wordfaqs.mvps.org/MasterSpellCheck.htm#NotAdded
There is no real way to expand a dictionary if it really is full, but you can instruct Word to recognize and use other dictionaries on your system. Follow these steps:
Figure 1. The Proofing options of the Word Options dialog box.
Figure 2. The Custom Dictionaries dialog box.
Word will now use the dictionary you specified in step 7 as the dictionary for its spell checking tasks.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (6092) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Expanding a Custom Dictionary.
Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!
When Word checks the spelling of a document, it can either check or ignore words that are in uppercase letters. Here's ...
Discover MoreIf your work involves the usage of repeated words, you may be interested in configuring Word so it doesn't flag those ...
Discover MoreWant to correct the spelling of a word that Word thinks is improperly spelled? A quick way to do it is to right-click the ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments