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Firefox 3, Thunderbird 2, SeaMonkey 1.1
Australian English spellcheck dictionary files

NOTE: Click here for the main page of the dictionary project.


The BEST Australian spellcheck dictionaries
for Firefox, Thunderbird and SeaMonkey.

From the creator and maintainer of the dictionary files since 2003.

FREE Word Check

Try out Word Check, the new online tool we're providing for FREE, to enable Australians to check they're using the preferred Australian spelling.

Word Check

Also available: Word Check - American English and Word Check - British English

OPEN SOURCE DICTIONARY PROJECT NOW CLOSED

After six years and with over half a million people using Australian English dictionary files based on my work, I've decided it is no longer financially viable for me to support Open Source projects. To the sixteen people who gave voluntary donations, and the others who kept me going with a simple thank you, I owe you my thanks.

- Kelvin Eldridge

PS Work on the next version of Kelvin's preferred dictionary of Australian English spelling is continuing. Word Check is a FREE service providing the preferred Australian English spelling. Word Check is based on current development version of Kelvin's preferred dictionary and is updated regularly.

SUPPORT FOR MOZZILA PROJECTS WITHDRAWN

Please accept my apologies as I've withdrawn my support of the Mozilla projects. The inclusion of my work by the Firefox project has serverely damaged this project.

NOTE: If you wish to assist this project to grow please use Internet Explorer 7/8 instead.

DICTIONARY NEWS

21 January 2009

Try out Australian English Word Check (alpha).

The Australian English Word Check allows you to check a word to see if it is the preferred spelling used in Australia. Word Check uses the word list for the next version of the Australian English spellcheck dictionary. The next release is still some months off and requires a great deal of work. In the meantime, Word Check will enable you to check words and find the meaning of the word.

You can find Word Check via this link, Australian English Word Check.

You can also add Word Check as a search engine to your browser using the links on the Word Check page. This effectively turns the search field of your browser into an Australian English dictionary.

Why use Word Check?

There are a large number of FREE dictionaries available on the Internet. The problem is they are all based overseas and this makes it difficult to determine if the spelling is for Australia. Word Check confirms you are using the preferred spelling of a word in Australia.

Remember, Word Check is currently in alpha, and requires many more words to be checked and added before it reaches general release stage. Your feedback and comments as always are welcome.

16 December 2008

Based on much appreciated feedback, I am now making a clean version 2.2.2 of the Australian English dictionary file for Firefox and Thunderbird users. This is the version of the dictionary before it was hacked, which introduced spelling and other errors. (By hacked I refer to how the dictionary was modified not using standard procedures.)

Version 3.0.x of the Australian English spellcheck dictionary files and the Kelvin version, which is Australia's only prescriptive spellcheck dictionary, are now FREE for clients, customers of JustLocal and those using the services of Virtual Profit Sharing partners.

13 December 2008

Dictionary files updated for Firefox 3.1 Beta.

Now if you want to take Firefox 3.1 Beta for a test drive you can use the Australian English spellcheck dictionaries you are used to. No changes have been made to the dictionary files themselves, only the information required by Firefox 3.1 has been changed.

Version 3.0.0 of the dictionary files now available.
40,000 more words.

The latest news on the dictionary files can be found on the JustLocal News/Blog.

The new version:

I originally created the Australian English dictionary language files for OpenOffice.org. Since then my work over the last six years has extended and now covers most of the major open source projects and many commercial projects.

To ensure Firefox and Thunderbird users now have access to the latest copies of  the Australian English spellcheck files, the files are available in the XPI format used by Firefox and Thunderbird.

The dictionary files I make available are copyright so please respect the copyright. If you find anyone requiring Australian English dictionary files for Firefox, Thunderbird, or SeaMonkey, please let them know about this site.

I trust you find my work useful.

Australian English prescriptive dictionary files

The Australian English language prescriptive dictionary raises your spelling to the next level. Over two thousand words in the Australia English language have two spellings. Use the preferred spelling and make your documents more professional.

No longer do you need to worry about questions like, is it "summarize" or "summarise"? The prescriptive dictionary provides the most popular spelling used in Australia. If you want to be able to use either spelling, then download the full version of the dictionary. The prescriptive dictionary is called the Kelvin version of the dictionary. For a full explanation of the "Kelvin" version please read the OpenOffice.org page http://www.justlocal.com.au/clients/oooau/.

In summary:

• The "Kelvin" version is what is known as a prescriptive dictionary. It is what I wanted from a dictionary.

• The"Kelvin" version aims to provide the single spelling of a word most commonly used where there are two or more ways to spell a word.

• From our experience more people in Australia prefer to spell using "ise" than "ize". That is "organise" and not "organize". The "Kelvin" version removes over 2,300 words which contain the "iz" spelling variation, secondary spelling variations and American spelt words.

• The "Kelvin" version helps to create documents with a single consistent spelling of a word. (It is generally not considered wrong to spell using "ise" or "ize" in Australia, however it is considered wrong to use different spelling for a single word in the same document.)

• We hope the "Kelvin" version will reduce the confusion people experience because of the dual spelling of many words in Australia.

• Spelling is less confusing when a single preferred way to spell a word is provided.

The "Kelvin" version is our preferred way to spell. It is up to each person to decide how they prefer to spell.

Right click on the following link and save the file to your computer.

Kelvin_Australian_English_Dictionary-3.0.1.fx+zm+tb.xpi (for Firefox 3)

Full Australian English language files

The full version of the language files is the base version.

This version of the language files contain around 2,000 words many people consider to be "American English" variations. For example these files include "organise" and "organize". (Both spelling variations of the words are generally considered acceptable in Australia.)

Right click on the following link and save the file to your computer.

Australian_English_Dictionary-3.0.1.fx+zm+tb.xpi (for Firefox 3)

Installing either of the language files (Windows XP)

Download and Save the xpi file of your choice to your Desktop.

NOTE: Use Save Target As and select "save as type" to be "All files". Change the file extension from "zip" to "xpi". Unfortunately even though the file name is already xpi, the process of saving using Internet Explorer changes the file type to be "zip" and thus you need to change it back to "xpi" either before or after downloading. If you don't change the :zip extension this  will cause things not to work. This does not occur if you use Firefox to download the file.

Zip files are also blocked when downloaded. You may need to unblock the file before using it. Right click on the file and click on unblock.

Once you have the file downloaded to your computer how you install the file depends on if you wish to use it with Firefox or Thunderbird. (There may be a better way as we determined these methods through trial and error.)

Firefox, Thunderbird 2 and SeaMonkey

When you purchase the dictionary files enter your Facebook email address. I will send you an invitation to join the dictionary group where you can find the information on installing the dictionary files in Firefox, Thunderbird 2 and SeaMonkey.

Linux users

These files should work with your version of Linux. I don't run a Linux system so I can't personally test them, but Linux users have downloaded and use these files.

Tell others

Please let others know about the dictionary files we have made available. Your family, friends and colleagues will thank you.

Disclaimer

We make these files available to JustLocal users. We make no claims for suitability for any purpose, or that they are error free. You agree that at all times, you take full responsibility for your own actions including the use of these programs.

Known issues and comments

1. The spellcheck suggestions offer by Thunderbird are not the same as those offered by OpenOffice.org. We cannot do anything about the program making the suggestions, only the list of words contained in the dictionary files.

2. Preparing these files and instructions for use with Firefox/Thunderbird was achieved by studying existing xpi files and trial an error. We may have made assumptions which are not valid. So far however our testing has shown what we have done works.

3. Question: Thunderbird does not pick up repeated words. - Answer: This issue is with the Thunderbird program.

4. Question: I'm surprised many Australian slang words are not included in the dictionary. - Answer: As a rule I do not include slang words. I am currently collecting slang words to create additional options if wanted by people using the dictionaries. If a word is not in the dictionary please send a suggestion.

A JustLocal™ friend.