Adjusting Spell Check for Internet Addresses

Summary: When writing technical documents, URLs are a common thing to include in your text. Normally Word will mark these as incorrectly spelled. You can, however, configure Word so that it ignores them. (This tip works with Microsoft Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, Word 2003, and Word 2007.)

It goes without saying that the Internet has taken the world by storm. (You are reading this through your Internet e-mail, right?) While this is a great boon to many people, it can be bothersome to writers. Many spell checkers and grammar checkers don't know quite what to do with Internet addresses, such as URLs and e-mail addresses.

You can instruct the spell check program to ignore anything that looks like an Internet address. To enable this option, follow these steps if you are using a version of Word prior to Word 2007:

Choose Options from the Tools menu. Word displays the Options dialog box.
Make sure the Spelling & Grammar tab is selected. (Click here to see a related figure.)
Make sure the Ignore Internet and File Addresses check box is selected.
Click on OK.

If you are using Word 2007 then you should follow these steps:

Click the Office button and then click Word Options. Word displays the Word Options dialog box.
Click Proofing at the left side of the dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
Make sure the Ignore Internet and File Addresses check box is selected.
Click on OK.

Tip #939 applies to Microsoft Word versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2007

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Adjusting Spell Check for Internet Addresses