# Legal types...help me with Microsoft Word **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 9, 2001, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-types-help-me-with-microsoft-word/86219 "2001-10-09T00:44:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TheFifthYear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@TheFifthYear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFifthYear)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-types-help-me-with-microsoft-word/86219/1 "2001-10-09T00:44:02Z")
All right, here’s the story. I’m a first year law student, and am becoming increasingly frustrated that Word’s default spell checker doesn’t recognize many legal terms. I’m looking for a dictionary of legal terms that I can download and plug into Word so that I don’t have to keep turning to Black’s when Microsoft says I’ve misspelled something. I searched on Google and [download.com](http://download.com) and found a couple of full Legal Dictionaries on CD-ROM, but they’re a bit out of my price range (anything costing more than nothing is out of my price range). So, am I screwed, or is there something out there? ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-types-help-me-with-microsoft-word/86219/2 "2001-10-09T02:42:23Z")
A few thoughts . . . One, that as far as I know, WordPerfect is more commonly used among legal types than Word, which may be hindering your search. Two, I know that there are medical spell checkers (e.g. Stedman’s) that can be plugged into Word, so I’m thinking there should be a legal analog. I tried Googling “microsoft word legal spell checker” but Google isn’t working for me at the moment. If you haven’t already, you might give that a try, and also the Microsoft site might have something. Sorry I can’t be more helpful, but maybe this will give you something to go on. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-types-help-me-with-microsoft-word/86219/3 "2001-10-09T02:44:41Z")
[http://spellex.com/Products/legal.htm](http://spellex.com/Products/legal.htm) There ya go! Zette ---
**Author:** ![TheFifthYear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@TheFifthYear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFifthYear)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-types-help-me-with-microsoft-word/86219/4 "2001-10-09T03:00:48Z")
I saw that one, too. The only problem is the $120 price tag. :eek: I’m waaaay too poor for that. And **Scarlet67** , it’s interesting that WordPerfect would be more common. I didn’t know that. Word’s what I’ve got and what I know, so I’m going to stick with that until it becomes too burdensome not to switch. Thanks to both of you. I’m still holding out for a freebie. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-types-help-me-with-microsoft-word/86219/5 "2001-10-09T03:04:37Z")
Why don’t you just add the words to the dictionary as they crop up ?: Spell Check \> Add button – you only need to do it the once for each word. Just make sure it’s spelt correctly when you add it. ---
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-types-help-me-with-microsoft-word/86219/6 "2001-10-09T03:08:18Z")
WordPerfect used to be fairly widely used in the legal profession. Today I’d guess that about 90% use MS Word. And since today virtually every single transaction is negotiated via e-mail, I wish it was 100%. As far as the OP, I’ve spent a long time building up my personal dictionary - the new “auto-correct” feature makes it simple to add words. You really should try and avoid legalese anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-types-help-me-with-microsoft-word/86219/7 "2001-10-09T03:18:46Z")
How about this one, then? > **[Inductel Legal Speller Download, Version 17](https://inductel.com/products/inductel-legal-speller-software-digital-download-version-17)** > > Attention Mac users: This software only runs on versions of macOS below version 11, Big Sur.  > Your Comprehensive Proofing Solution > Legal secretaries, court reporters.  It’s amazing what this app can do for you!  It enables your... I stand corrected on the Word/WP thing. Personally, I prefer WP, so i’m a bummer to see it losing ground in yet another area. **London\_Calling** : Trust me, that’s exactly what the poor soul is trying to avoid. I recently helped copyedit a book that was heavy on medical terms, and I was extremely grateful for my colleague’s medical spell checker. Looking up all those terms, even only on first occurrence, would have made the job take eons longer than it already did. (And even if the default spell checker “catches” them, if you care enough to get it right, you look it up.) ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2001, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legal-types-help-me-with-microsoft-word/86219/8 "2001-10-09T03:27:00Z")
Yep **Scarlett** , but he’s only a First Year Law student – he’s not editing a book of very many medical terms. From what I recall he’s only got _mens rea, actus reas_ and half a dozen others to add…ok, maybe a few more but it’s not half an hours work. First Year Law…them was the days…