Why does my Mac not auto-correct other languages?

Question

Level 1

17 points

Why does my Mac not auto-correct other languages?

In Text & Languages, under the Languages tab, I have 4 languages selected. These are the ones in which I usually write. The main language I use is German, and whenever I do a mistake, it corrects it from alone. While I'm typing basically.

This doesn't apply for other languages however. It does underline them in red, and if I right-click the word, it will suggest the right word. But it just simply doesn't auto-correct while I'm typing. Why not?

In the Text tab, I have set the option to automatically recognise which language I'm writing in.

Also, does the "dictionnary" or whatever it is save words? Basically like on the iPhone? If yes, is there a way to reset it?

Thanks 😝

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Jun 5, 2013 6:07 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,858 points

Jun 5, 2013 8:19 AM in response to Anon M

What language is your OS running in?

If you drag one of the other languges to the top of the list in system prefs/language & text/spelling/Setup mode and restart, does it then autocorrectly only in that language?

Reply

Answer 2

Anon M Author

Level 1

17 points

Jun 5, 2013 8:30 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

It's running in german. I just restarted my computer (without changing the order of the languages), and weirdly enough it works. It doesn't work well however, or at least not as good as on the iPhone. I haven't done a restart in ages, maybe that was just what it needed. I notice how I'm doing small mistakes right now while I'm typing and it doesn't correct them, doesn't underline them. Sometimes it does, sometimes not. It seems to be very slow and I type fast, maybe too fast? In this box in here it doesn't correct anything right now, but I've set Safari to correct anything wrong and replace while typing, etc.

I just tried typing some stuff in german in here, doesn't change anything either. It doesn't want.

Reply

Answer 3

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,858 points

Jun 5, 2013 11:00 AM in response to Anon M

Anon M wrote:

at least not as good as on the iPhone.

But the iPhone doesn't have to make a guess about the text language, it just follows the keyboard you have currently active.

I think most users do not find Apple's OS X automatic multilingual spell check/autocorrection to be very good.

Reply

Answer 4

Anon M Author

Level 1

17 points

Jun 5, 2013 11:03 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

Yeah then probably that's the reason: it just isn't as good 😟

I wouldn't mind having to hit a little button or a key to swap to another language, in case that's possible somehow?

I tried it with the little flags in the menu bar, but this really just swaps the keyboard itself -- which I do not want.

Reply

Answer 5

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

115,858 points

Jun 5, 2013 11:11 AM in response to Anon M

Anon M wrote:

I wouldn't mind having to hit a little button or a key to swap to another language, in case that's possible somehow?

I think you should be able to set the current spellcheck language in Edit > Spelling and Grammar > Show Spelling and Grammar.

If they eventually adopt the iOS system in OS X, you would of course switch the keyboard via the "flag" menu (or the coimmand + space keyboard shortcut) to switch the spellcheck.

Reply

Answer 6

Anon M Author

Level 1

17 points

Jun 5, 2013 11:14 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

Yeah I see that menu. It's still kind of clunky, let's hope it adopts the iOS system like you say 😉

Command + Space opens Spotlight in the menu bar for me, I've most likely changed it.

Reply