Most presentation applications have extensive text creation and editing abilities. Microsoft PowerPoint, for example, allows you to work in an Outline view that looks just like the Microsoft Word interface. You can add and edit text as easily as you can in Word. You can even access many advanced word processing features like — drag and drop editing, spelling, and cut and paste. (In PowerPoint, just use the Tools menu item and click Options. The Edit and Spelling tabs contain several good word processing features.)

Nevertheless, the best editing options in presentation applications are not as extensive as they are in Word. Additionally, many people simply feel more comfortable "writing" in Word. Consequently, it is not at all unusual to write an initial draft of presentation content in Word and then copy the content into a presentation application like PowerPoint.

While this is an unnecessary step in many cases, it does allow you to access certain Word features that are really wonderful tools . . . one of these is the Custom Dictionary option in Word.

The Custom Dictionary allows you to store your own dictionary in Word — one with words YOU use again and again. This is a wonderful tool if you frequently write about an industry or product with unique terms or individual names — items that would not likely be contained in a traditional dictionary. Best of all, it is easy to create a custom dictionary. In fact, if you are using Word now, you probably have the beginning of a custom dictionary already started.

To create a new custom dictionary in Microsoft Word

1. Open a Word document.



2. Click Tools > Options.



3. Select the Spelling & Grammar tab.



4. Under Custom dictionary, select CUSTOM.DIC. Then click Dictionaries.



5. You can do one of several options:



• To create a new custom dictionary



• Click New.



• Provide a file name for the new dictionary (.DIC) file. Click Save.




Note The file automatically saves in the default directory: Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\proof.



• Proceed to add entries to this dictionary using the instructions under to edit an existing custom dictionary.


• To edit an existing custom dictionary



• In the Custom dictionaries listbox, select the dictionary to edit.



• Click Edit. The dictionary document opens in Word.



• Add, delete, or modify entries as desired.



• When you are finished, select File > Save.



• Close the .DIC file.


• To add an existing custom dictionary



• Click Add.



• Navigate to the folder that contains the .DIC file to add. Select the file and click OK.



• Click OK again.


• To remove a custom dictionary



• In the Custom dictionaries listbox, select the dictionary to remove.



• Click Remove.



• Click OK.