How to set your computer spell checker to your language

When using a spell checker, you need to make sure your computer's spell checker is set to the language in which you are operating. For English, there are two possible options - English (US) and English (Australian/UK). Because I am based in Australia, I have the Australian version set on my computer.

To set up your spell checker to use the correct English language dictionary (or to check this is already in place), follow this easy process:

* Open Microsoft Word and left click on the 'Review' tab
* Go to 'Proofing' section
* Left click on the icon with a globe and a red tick, which is 'Set Language'
* Left click and you will see a listing of all possible languages which can be set as your spell checker, from Afrikaans to Yoruba.
* Highlight the language of your choice and click on the default button, which will set up the 'Normal' template for all future documents to rely on the spell checker language you have chosen.

This should take you no more than 30 seconds to achieve. You can rest assured from this point on that your spelling will be correct for the English context in which you are operating.

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10 Uses for a Dictionary

1. How to spell a word, including alternative spellings
2. Part of speech – eg. noun, verb or adjective
3. How to pronounce the word
4. How to break the word into syllables
5. Definition/s
6. History/origin of the word – known as etymology
7. Example sentence – usage in context
8. Possible other forms of the word
9. Any abbreviations of the word
10. In between actual use, having a dictionary on your shelf will make you look smarter to others.

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Word of the Week - SALARY

Today's word – SALARY

Pronunciation – sal-uh-ree

Word type - noun

Definition – the regular pay a worker receives for doing their job, especially for office work

Word origin-
Middle English, from Anglo-French - In Roman times, part of a soldier’s weekly payment was given in salt. The Latin word for salt is ‘salarium’. The saying, ‘worth your salt’ means that you are so capable and efficient that you are thought to deserve your pay.
Salt was a very precious commodity in ancient times, due to the cost involved in its extraction and the high cost of carrying it by river, sea and over land. Traders became very wealthy through the commodity of salt. It was primarily used in the preservation of food, in times long before refrigeration was invented. Salt taxes were introduced by governments and huge revenues were raised.
Prior to the 1700s/1800s and the growth in industrialisation, workers were paid by the hour or by the day. It was at this time that progressive companies began to pay a salary to its workers, especially for office workers, where work could not necessarily be measured by numbers of items produced.

Sample sentence - The worker was paid a monthly salary.

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Spelling Stress

I've just been speaking to my son about the words he finds most difficult to spell. He turned 10 in January, reads willingly and has undergone a fairly intensive spelling programme at his school over the past three years.

In his opinion, two of the words he finds most difficult to spell are exaggerate and apparatus. For the former, he said he adds an extra "z" into the early part to make it "exzaggerate" and, because the vowels all sound different in the latter, he has tried variations of "apperatis", substituting vowels at random. Unless my son had explained all this to me, I would have assumed his misspellings were the results of doubling other consonants in each word, as in "exaggerrate"and "apparratus".

I find it interesting that spelling certain words will be difficult for one person, but relatively straightforward for another. Further, it is quite fascinating to hear the logic behind a person's choice for spelling a word in a certain way, and, I might add, often quite instructive, if not correct. I am sure everyone possesses their own particular spelling challenge, and the old adage, practise makes perfect, is likely to be the best remedy. My strongest advice is that a dictionary is indispensable (or is that indispensible?). Keep one within arm's reach and use it with abandon.

Lastly, don't rely on computer spell checks, as, without the definition, how do you know whether you've got the word you really want? A case in point - the spelling conundrums outlined earlier come from the same boy who can spell "viscosity", but thinks it means "to have visitors coming to one's house".

I'd be interested to hear about your personal spelling challenge...

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