Flyspell And/or Ispell + Hunspell: Quirk For Contraction Words (shouldn't, Isn't Etc. Getting Flagged)
Flyspell and/or Ispell + Hunspell: Quirk for Contraction Words
Discussion Category: Flyspell, Ispell, Spell Checking, Hunspell
Introduction
When setting up spell-checking with flyspell and hunspell, contractions such as shouldn't and isn't are getting flagged. This issue can be frustrating, especially for writers and editors who frequently use these types of words in their work. In this article, we will explore the possible reasons behind this quirk and provide solutions to resolve the issue.
Understanding Flyspell and Hunspell
Flyspell is a spell-checking tool that is part of the Emacs editor. It uses the hunspell library to check the spelling of words in a document. Hunspell is a spell-checking library that is widely used in many applications, including word processors and text editors. It uses a dictionary file to check the spelling of words and can be configured to use different dictionaries for different languages.
The Issue with Contraction Words
Contraction words, such as shouldn't and isn't, are words that are formed by combining two words with an apostrophe. These words are often flagged by spell-checking tools, including flyspell and hunspell, because they are not found in the dictionary. However, this is not entirely the dictionary's issue, as we will discuss later.
Why Contraction Words are Flagged
There are several reasons why contraction words are flagged by flyspell and hunspell. One reason is that these tools are designed to check the spelling of words based on their individual components, rather than their combined form. For example, the word "shouldn't" is composed of the words "should" and "not", which are both found in the dictionary. However, when these words are combined with an apostrophe, the resulting word is not found in the dictionary, and therefore is flagged as a spelling error.
Solution 1: Add Contraction Words to the Dictionary
One solution to this issue is to add contraction words to the dictionary. This can be done by editing the dictionary file used by flyspell and hunspell. For example, if you are using the en_GB dictionary, you can add the following lines to the dictionary file:
shouldn't
isn't
won't
can't
This will tell flyspell and hunspell to recognize these words as valid spellings.
Solution 2: Use a Custom Dictionary
Another solution is to use a custom dictionary that includes contraction words. This can be done by creating a new dictionary file that includes the words you want to recognize. For example, you can create a file called "contractions.txt" with the following contents:
shouldn't
isn't
won't
can't
You can then tell flyspell and hunspell to use this custom dictionary by adding the following lines to your Emacs configuration file:
(add-to-list 'flyspell-dictionary-alist
'("contractions" "contractions.txt" t))
This will tell flyspell to use the custom dictionary when checking the spelling of words.
Solution 3: Disable Spell-Checking for Contraction Words
If you do not want to add contraction words to the dictionary or use a custom dictionary, you can disable spell-checking for these words. This can be done by adding the following lines to your Emacs configuration file:
(add-to-list 'flyspell-ignored-words
"shouldn't")
(add-to-list 'flyspell-ignored-words
"isn't")
(add-to-list 'flyspell-ignored-words
"won't")
(add-to-list 'flyspell-ignored-words
"can't")
This will tell flyspell to ignore these words when checking the spelling of a document.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the issue with contraction words being flagged by flyspell and hunspell is a common problem that can be resolved by adding these words to the dictionary, using a custom dictionary, or disabling spell-checking for these words. By following the solutions outlined in this article, you can resolve this issue and improve your writing experience.
Additional Tips
- Make sure to update your dictionary file regularly to include new words and contraction words.
- Use a custom dictionary to include words that are specific to your industry or field of work.
- Consider using a different spell-checking tool that is more flexible and customizable.
- If you are using a word processor or text editor that uses flyspell or hunspell, you may need to configure the spell-checking settings to include contraction words.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: Why are contraction words flagged by flyspell and hunspell? A: Contraction words are flagged because they are not found in the dictionary. However, this is not entirely the dictionary's issue, as we will discuss later.
- Q: How can I add contraction words to the dictionary? A: You can add contraction words to the dictionary by editing the dictionary file used by flyspell and hunspell.
- Q: Can I use a custom dictionary to include contraction words? A: Yes, you can use a custom dictionary to include contraction words. This can be done by creating a new dictionary file that includes the words you want to recognize.
- Q: How can I disable spell-checking for contraction words?
A: You can disable spell-checking for contraction words by adding the words to the flyspell-ignored-words list in your Emacs configuration file.
Flyspell and/or Ispell + Hunspell: Quirk for Contraction Words - Q&A
Introduction
In our previous article, we discussed the issue of contraction words being flagged by flyspell and hunspell. We also provided solutions to resolve this issue, including adding contraction words to the dictionary, using a custom dictionary, and disabling spell-checking for these words. In this article, we will provide a Q&A section to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this issue.
Q&A
Q: Why are contraction words flagged by flyspell and hunspell?
A: Contraction words are flagged because they are not found in the dictionary. However, this is not entirely the dictionary's issue, as flyspell and hunspell are designed to check the spelling of words based on their individual components, rather than their combined form.
Q: How can I add contraction words to the dictionary?
A: You can add contraction words to the dictionary by editing the dictionary file used by flyspell and hunspell. For example, if you are using the en_GB dictionary, you can add the following lines to the dictionary file:
shouldn't
isn't
won't
can't
Q: Can I use a custom dictionary to include contraction words?
A: Yes, you can use a custom dictionary to include contraction words. This can be done by creating a new dictionary file that includes the words you want to recognize. For example, you can create a file called "contractions.txt" with the following contents:
shouldn't
isn't
won't
can't
You can then tell flyspell and hunspell to use this custom dictionary by adding the following lines to your Emacs configuration file:
(add-to-list 'flyspell-dictionary-alist
'("contractions" "contractions.txt" t))
Q: How can I disable spell-checking for contraction words?
A: You can disable spell-checking for contraction words by adding the words to the flyspell-ignored-words list in your Emacs configuration file. For example:
(add-to-list 'flyspell-ignored-words
"shouldn't")
(add-to-list 'flyspell-ignored-words
"isn't")
(add-to-list 'flyspell-ignored-words
"won't")
(add-to-list 'flyspell-ignored-words
"can't")
Q: Why are some contraction words not being flagged by flyspell and hunspell?
A: This is likely because the words are being recognized as valid spellings by the dictionary. For example, the word "can't" is a valid spelling of the word "cannot", and therefore is not being flagged by flyspell and hunspell.
Q: Can I use a different spell-checking tool that is more flexible and customizable?
A: Yes, you can use a different spell-checking tool that is more flexible and customizable. For example, you can use the aspell library, which is a more flexible and customizable spell-checking tool than flyspell and hunspell.
Q: How can I update my dictionary file to include new words and contraction words?
A: You can update your dictionary file by editing the dictionary file used by flyspell and hunspell. For example, if you are using the en_GB dictionary, you can add new words and contraction words to the dictionary file.
Q: Can I use a custom dictionary for multiple languages?
A: Yes, you can use a custom dictionary for multiple languages. This can be done by creating a new dictionary file that includes the words you want to recognize for each language.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the issue of contraction words being flagged by flyspell and hunspell is a common problem that can be resolved by adding these words to the dictionary, using a custom dictionary, or disabling spell-checking for these words. By following the solutions outlined in this article, you can resolve this issue and improve your writing experience.
Additional Tips
- Make sure to update your dictionary file regularly to include new words and contraction words.
- Use a custom dictionary to include words that are specific to your industry or field of work.
- Consider using a different spell-checking tool that is more flexible and customizable.
- If you are using a word processor or text editor that uses flyspell or hunspell, you may need to configure the spell-checking settings to include contraction words.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: Why are contraction words flagged by flyspell and hunspell? A: Contraction words are flagged because they are not found in the dictionary. However, this is not entirely the dictionary's issue, as flyspell and hunspell are designed to check the spelling of words based on their individual components, rather than their combined form.
- Q: How can I add contraction words to the dictionary? A: You can add contraction words to the dictionary by editing the dictionary file used by flyspell and hunspell.
- Q: Can I use a custom dictionary to include contraction words? A: Yes, you can use a custom dictionary to include contraction words. This can be done by creating a new dictionary file that includes the words you want to recognize.
- Q: How can I disable spell-checking for contraction words? A: You can disable spell-checking for contraction words by adding the words to the flyspell-ignored-words list in your Emacs configuration file.