# Making revisions to main dictionary in MS Word: **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 11, 2001, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-revisions-to-main-dictionary-in-ms-word/86800 "2001-10-11T14:25:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2001, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-revisions-to-main-dictionary-in-ms-word/86800/1 "2001-10-11T14:25:34Z")
A few days ago, I misspelled a word in a document. When later doing a spell check, MS Word flagged the misspelled word. I accidentally told it to “add” this word. How can I delete this word from the main dictionary? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2001, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-revisions-to-main-dictionary-in-ms-word/86800/2 "2001-10-11T14:56:16Z")
“Add” puts words in the custom dictionary, not the main one (which you should leave alone). To remove a mistake, search for the file “custom.dic” Open it. It’s a straight ASCII file and should be readable and editable in Notepad or Wordpad. Just delete the word, save it, and you’re set. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2001, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-revisions-to-main-dictionary-in-ms-word/86800/3 "2001-10-11T14:57:23Z")
Are you sure you added it to the main dictionary and not to the custom dictionary? My Word is set up so that anything added is added to the custom one. Try Tools, Spelling & Grammar, click on Options, click on Dictionaries. You will see what dictionaries you have available (on mine, only the Custom is listed). Follow the path or do a Find File for “custom.dic” - open up the text file and delete the offending word. If you are in fact adding to the main dictionary (which I don’t think you can really do), then I’m not sure how to find it. I tried locating “main.dic” and it didn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2001, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-revisions-to-main-dictionary-in-ms-word/86800/4 "2001-10-11T15:40:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by missbunny \* > \*\*Are you sure you added it to the main dictionary and not to the custom dictionary? My Word is set up so that anything added is added to the custom one. Try Tools, Spelling & Grammar, click on Options, click on Dictionaries. You will see what dictionaries you have available (on mine, only the Custom is listed). Follow the path or do a Find File for “custom.dic” - open up the text file and delete the offending word. > > If you are in fact adding to the main dictionary (which I don’t think you can really do), then I’m not sure how to find it. I tried locating “main.dic” and it didn’t work. \*\* You’re both correct. I put it in the custom dictionary. Thanks for the help!