WD97: "Suggest" Button Missing from Spelling Checker

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

The Suggest button is missing from the Spelling dialog box.

CAUSE

Microsoft Word 97 for Windows uses a different Spelling dialog box than the other Microsoft Office 97 programs.

This is because Word includes a grammar checking tool, as well as a spelling checker. These two tools are available from the same dialog box. By default, Word suggests corrections for words and grammatical errors.

The Suggestions list is unavailable if you have cleared the "Always suggest corrections" check box on the "Spelling & Grammar" tab of the Options dialog box.

WORKAROUND

To set or clear the "Always Suggest Corrections" check box, use either of the following methods.

Method 1: If the Spelling Checker Is Not Running

1. On the Tools menu, click Options.

2. Click the Spelling & Grammar tab.

3. Under Spelling, select or clear the "Always Suggest Corrections" check box.

1. On the Tools menu, click Spelling & Grammar (Spelling).

2. Click Options.

3. On the Spelling & Grammar tab, under Spelling, select or clear the "Always Suggest Corrections" check box.

MORE INFORMATION

For spelling errors, Word lists suggested replacement words from the main dictionary and open custom dictionaries. For grammar errors, Word lists suggested corrections based on the current grammar style and grammar settings.

Previous versions of Word allowed you to use wild card characters in a text string and click Suggest to get additional words from the dictionary. For example, typing "d*g" and clicking on Suggest gave you a list of all words that began with the letter "d" and ended with letter "g".

To accomplish this task in Microsoft Word 97, type "d*g" in the Not In Dictionary box, and click Change. The word will change in your document, but Word will also list all of the alternative suggestions from the dictionary. You can then click on the suggestion you want and it will change the word in your document.