Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Word and Outlook Not Remembering Custom Spellings

Ayan Masood Sep 25, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users are experiencing an issue where Microsoft Word and Outlook fail to recognize previously saved custom spellings, acronyms, and abbreviations.

How to Fix Word and Outlook Not Remembering Custom Spellings

Product: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Typing and proofreading documents or composing emails using custom vocabulary and acronyms.
Observed behavior: Words that were previously added to the dictionary are being flagged as misspelled by the spell checker.

Before you start

Before modifying your dictionary settings, ensure your Microsoft Office suite is fully updated and restart both Word and Outlook.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify and Enable the Custom Dictionary

Check if the custom dictionary has been disabled or unselected in Word's proofing options, which affects both Word and Outlook.

Microsoft Office shares dictionary settings across its applications. If the primary custom dictionary gets unchecked in Word, Outlook will also stop recognizing your saved words.

Open Word Options

Launch Microsoft Word, click on 'File' in the top left corner, and select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.

Navigate to Proofing

In the Word Options dialog box, click on 'Proofing' in the left-hand pane.

Access Custom Dictionaries

Scroll down to the 'When correcting spelling in Microsoft Office programs' section and click the 'Custom Dictionaries...' button.

Enable the Dictionary

Ensure that the checkbox next to 'CUSTOM.DIC' (or your specific custom dictionary) is checked, then click 'OK' to save the changes.

Dictionary Sync: Any changes made to the custom dictionary in Word will automatically apply to Outlook's spell check feature.

Solution 2

Check the Text Proofing Language

Ensure the text you are typing matches the language of your custom dictionary, as spell check is language-specific.

Solution 3

Verify Outlook Editor Settings

Confirm that Outlook is properly configured to use Word's spell checking engine.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Reliable Spell Checking and Document Editing

If Microsoft Office dictionaries frequently become corrupted or fail to sync between applications, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative with robust spell check features, a familiar interface, and seamless support for Microsoft document formats.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free WPS Office suite.
2. Open Your Documents: Open your existing Word (.docx) documents directly in WPS Writer without losing formatting.
3. Manage Spell Check: Right-click any custom acronyms while typing to instantly add them to your secure WPS custom dictionary.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) and Outlook formats.Free, lightweight, and incredibly fast to install.Reliable built-in spell check and straightforward custom dictionary management.Familiar user interface for a zero-learning-curve transition.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Word marking my saved acronyms as misspelled again?

This typically happens if the proofing language of your current document differs from the language of your custom dictionary. It can also occur if the CUSTOM.DIC file was accidentally unchecked in the Proofing settings.

How do I add a word to the dictionary in Outlook?

While composing an email, simply right-click the unrecognized word (marked with a red squiggly line) and select 'Add to Dictionary' from the context menu.

How do I display the proofing language in Word's status bar?

Right-click the empty space on the status bar at the bottom of the Word window and click on the 'Language' option to make the language indicator visible.

Can a damaged custom dictionary be fixed?

Yes. You can fix it by going to File > Options > Proofing > Custom Dictionaries, selecting the damaged dictionary, and choosing to edit it manually or creating a new default dictionary.

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