If you're using version 2 of Firefox, you've probably noticed that its default behavior is to run an on-the-fly spell checker whenever you're typing in a text box. For example, you're typing in a text box when composing a comment on this blog. You can see that the spell checking is on if you misspell a word -- as soon as you move to the next word, the error is underlined in red.
All well and good, but what about when you want to insist that the word that Firefox insists is wrong is right? And you use this word all the time -- say, a bit of jargon or a proper name -- and the red underline is starting to feel like a poke in the eye?
It turns out that you can add words to a personal dictionary on the machine that you're using. Right-click on the underlined word and choose "Add to dictionary."
If you're like me, and add a word only to realize a moment later, no, Guiliani is in fact spelled with one N, it appears that you have no recourse but to modify the file containing your personal dictionary by hand. That file is named "persdict.dat," and it's stored in the same folder containing your bookmarks.dat file. For Windows users, this a location deeply buried in the file system; e.g., "C:\Documents and Settings\brendan\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\profiles\7qtija3d.default\persdict.dat" (all one one line, of course).
If you make changes in this file, be sure to use a plain text editor, not a word processor. You may also need to close and restart Firefox for your hand-edits to be apparent to Firefox. At least, that's what a little experimenting indicates to me.
Finally, that same right-click context menu permits you to toggle the spell checking on and off for the current text box only. You can also set the default behavior via Tools -> Options -> Advanced tab -> General tab, and check or uncheck "Check my spelling as I type" as you prefer.
Now you know. And your life is made immeasurably better. And by "immeasurably," I mean, "not tending toward the really large, but in the other direction."
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