Install a dictionary.

It is possible that you confused dictionary with language pack or with the preferred language for webpages and that you do not have a dictionary installed.

Do you have a dictionary installed and selected?

You can see which dictionary is selected if you right-click in a text area and open the Languages sub menu. At least one dictionary should be installed and have a check mark to indicate that it is selected.

• open the "Add Dictionaries" link to install a dictionary if you do not have one.

The spelling checker is enabled if [X] "Check Spelling" in the right-click context menu has a checkmark.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-use-firefox-spell-checker

You can look here for dictionaries:

• https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/language-tools/

Note that for spell check you need a dictionary. A language pack provides string translations for the user interface.

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/use-firefox-another-language

You can check in about:config whether layout.spellcheckDefault is set to 1 (multi-line) or 2 (single-line).

cor-el please can you help me? I have the latest Firefox update. My Settings menu: Language Choose the languages used to display menus, messages, and notifications from Firefox. English (GB) Choose your preferred language for displaying pages English(United Kingdom) (en-gb) [Ticked] Check your spelling as you type

If I type crpt here it gets a red underline so I right press my mouse and I get offered 'carpet' and other options. Q1. If spell checker works here why doesn't work on many other sites? e.g. WhatDoTheyKnow?

You say: 'You can check in about:config whether layout.spell check Default is set to 1 (multi-line) or 2 (single-line).' Q2. How do I access 'layout.spell check'?

Thanks for your help.

Hi Both of those language setting under "Language and Appearance" have nothing to do with checking for spelling errors.

The first language setting in Settings is about the language for the user interface. The second language setting in Settings is about the preferred languages for webpages.

• Settings -> General -> Language and Appearance -> Language
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/use-firefox-another-language
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/choose-display-languages-multilingual-web-pages

The en-GB Firefox version doesn't come with a spell check dictionary for license reason, you need to install the en-GB dictionary yourself. See Adding dictionaries:

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-use-firefox-spell-checker

You can look here for dictionaries:

• https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/language-tools/

Note that for spell check you need a dictionary. A language pack provides string translations for the user interface.

Thank you VERY much for your clear and helpful explanation. Followed what you said and it now works on other sites.