LibreOffice 4.0 Writer Guide - The Document Foundation Wiki

Figure 89: Options available in the Languages settings
The spelling checker works only for those languages in the list which have the symbol next to
them. If you do not see this symbol next to your preferred language, you can install the dictionary
using Tools > Language > More dictionaries online.
Using the status bar
The language used for checking spelling is also shown in the status bar, next to the page style in
use. You can change the language for the paragraph or the entire document; click on the language
in the status bar to pop up a menu of choices.
Figure 90: Language choices on the status bar
Notice the Reset to Default Language option on the menu and submenu. This is the fastest way to
return a paragraph or the entire document to the default language set in Tools > Options
(described above).
Using synonyms and the thesaurus
You can access a short list of synonyms from the context menu (Figure 91):
1) Select a word or phrase, right-click, and point to Synonyms on the context menu. A
submenu of alternative words and phrases is displayed.
2) Click on a word or phrase to select it and replace the highlighted word or phrase in the
document.
The thesaurus gives a more extensive list of alternative words and phrases. To use the thesaurus:
1) Select a word or phrase, and then choose Tools > Language > Thesaurus, or press
Ctrl+F7, or right-click and choose Thesaurus from the Synonyms submenu.
2) In the dialog, click on a word or phrase within the numbered list of meanings to select it.
3) Click Replace to make the substitution.
For example, when given the word house, the thesaurus offers several meanings, including
dwelling, legislature, sign of the zodiac, and others. Select a replacement word from the list
under the relevant meaning, so for dwelling, you will see dwelling, home, domicile, abode,
and other alternatives, as shown in Figure 92.
Chapter 3 Working with Text 91