Spell Check not to use MS Word

[sknsnw9]

Trying to use the spell check and realized that it requires MS Word.  I have not use MS word for about 10-15 years.  I've been using Open Documents and currently Google Documents.  Is there a way to pick a new source to do spell check? I have no interest to buy MS Word just for the spell check.

[Patrick M]

really? I don't have MS word and the spell checker works fine for me

[sknsnw9]

You're using Apple.  I'm on windows.  Here's the screen shot what it says:

[Patrick M]

strange... I wouldn't ahve thought such a mundane feature would piggy pack on word... but I guess font files pull from the computer... maybe word is that fundamental to other software operations on windows?

[vistasp]

It's a long-time irritation for the small number of Windows users who don't/won't use MS Office. I doubt it would be so difficult to embed a dictionary into the software, but somehow it has never been done. C'mon, GS, this is low-hanging fruit!

[Lingwisyer]

Embedding one might be troublesome due to localisations, user additions and annual releases, but maybe pointing it to an external dictionary, which would default to MS, but could be redefined by users would work?

Ling.

[vistasp]

That could also work, Ling, although given that open source dictionaries are available for all the language versions that AC has (and many more besides), I doubt it would be so difficult to implement.

Dictionaries are tiny files (a few hundred kilobytes, usually), and they could all be part of the installer, with the user given a choice of which one/s they want to install. This would be similar to the choice you get when you install an Office suite.