Fish Name Spellchecker

As an aid to authors and editors of fisheries science papers, AFS is pleased to offer a complimentary fish name spell-checker. The spell-checker is based on the 2004 Sixth Edition of the authoritative AFS book Common and Scientific Names of Fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Every common and scientific name in the Sixth Edition is included in the spell-checker. Simply download the file to your computer, and you can check and correct any fish name spelling in a Microsoft Word document (the file has not been tested with other word processing programs).

Installation Instructions (PC):

  • To use the file as a dictionary, save it to a convenient location on your computer (e.g., Desktop, folder on C drive, etc). The downloaded file must remain on your computer if you wish to continue to use the fish names spell-checker.
  • Right-click HERE to download the file. Select “Save Link Target As” and then select the location where you wish to save the file.
  • In Microsoft Word, click on Tools -> Options -> Spelling and Grammar.
  • Click on Custom Dictionaries/Dictionaries, then click on Add. At the bottom of the screen, click on Files of Type and select All Files. At the top of the screen in the Look In box, click the down arrow, and click on the location (e.g. Desktop, C drive folder, etc.) where you downloaded the file.
  • Find the file (“pub_spellcheck”) and double-click on it.
  • The “pub_spellcheck.txt” file should now be in the Dictionary list, preceded by a checkmark. Click OK. Click OK in the Options dialog box as well. All documents in Microsoft Word can now be spell-checked using the new dictionary.

For Word 2007 Users (PC)

Download our spellchecker file (fish.dic) by right-clicking HERE. Select “Save Link As” and then select the location where you wish to save the file.

1. Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Word Options (at bottom).
2. Click Proofing.
3. Make sure the “Suggest from main dictionary only” check box is cleared.
4. Click Custom Dictionaries.
5. In the Custom Dictionaries dialog box, for any custom dictionaries you want to use, make sure the check box next to each of those dictionaries is selected.
6. Click Add.
7. Browse to the directory where you stored the dictionary file (fish.dic)
8. Both “CUSTOM.DIC” and “fish.dic” should now appear, and be checked.
9. Click Okay.

Installation Instructions (Mac):

Download text file by clicking HERE then select ‘Save Link Target As’

Open file in Word and save as a Custom Dictionary

Add to your list of Dictionaries that Word uses for spell-checking by (copied from the help dialog box):

  • On the Word menu, click Preferences, and then click Spelling and Grammar.
  • Click Dictionaries.
  • Click Add.
  • Go to the location where you saved the new Custom Dictionary, Select it, and then click Open.
  • Before you can use the custom dictionary to check spelling, you must activate it: In the Custom Dictionaries dialog box, make sure the check box beside the dictionary’s name is selected.
  • If you want to add words to the custom dictionary, you can do so while you check spelling. Or add, edit, or delete words directly in the custom dictionary file.

Comments/Suggestions?

Contact AFS Publications Director Aaron Lerner at alerner@fisheries.org or 301-897-8616, ext. 231.