Windows Live Mail includes the English (UK) spell check dictionary built-in, but the option is not exposed for some unknown reason. To enable the English (United Kingdom) spell check dictionary, using one of the methods below. Method 1 tells you how to manually add the UK English Spell check option in Windows Live Mail, and Method 2 uses a VBScript that I wrote to automate the task.

Credits to Bob Lucas for this excellent tip.

Method 1

Copying the files

Copy the files spell.ini, mssp3en.lex, MSSpell3.DLL from the following folder:

%ProgramFiles%\Windows Live\Mail\Proof\prf0009\2\

to the following folder:

(Windows XP)

%userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail\Proof\prf0809\1

(Windows Vista)

%localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail\Proof\prf0809\1

Note that the destination path does not exist by default and you need to manually create the folders up to the level above. To access the above location, simply type the path in the Address bar in Windows Explorer or in Start Run dialog.

More Information: Where the numeric 809 in the above path represents the hex value for English (UK) language. Its decimal equivalent is 2057. The list of Locale IDs are available at Microsoft Website.

Edit the Spell.ini file

After copying the files, you need to edit the spell.ini file (using Notepad) in the destination path, and set the Lang value to 2057, which is the Locale ID decimal for English, United Kingdom. Save the file. The spell.ini file should now show the following contents:

[Spellchecker]
Engine=MSSPELL3.DLL
Lex=MSSP3EN.LEX
Lang=2057

Method 2

Download ukspell_wlm.vbs and save to Desktop. Double-click the file to run it. The script carries out the steps listed in Method 1 quickly and you’ll see a message box when it’s complete.

Setting English (United Kingdom) as the default

English (United Kingdom) should now be added to the list of available languages in Windows Live Mail.

1. Start Windows Live Mail

2. Use ALT+T keyboard shortcut to access the Tools menu

3. Click Options

4. Select the Spelling tab

5. Select English (United Kingdom), click Set Default and click OK.

The UK Spell check dictionary really works!

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25 Responses to “How to Add the UK English Spell Check Option in Windows Live Mail” Subscribe to comments!

  1. David
    said this on Friday, May 22nd 2009 7:10 am

    Doesn’t work on my machine, a brand new Dell Inspiron 15 laptop with Vista SP1 32bit. Vista has all current updates added, Norton anti-virus installed, but absolutely nothing else has been done since purchase.

    Error:
    Script: C:\Users\user1\desktop\ukspell_wlm.vbs
    Line: 26
    Char: 1
    Error: path not found
    Code: 800A004C
    Source: Microsoft VBScript runtime error

  2. Marian
    said this on Wednesday, March 11th 2009 3:50 pm

    Excellent. Thank you. At last I can have words spelt as they should be and not as my computer wants to spell them.

  3. said this on Sunday, March 8th 2009 11:12 pm

    @Roger: Click Start, type “%LOCALAPPDATA%Windows Live\Mail\Proof\prf0009\2″ and press ENTER. Does the folder open, or do you get an error message?

  4. Roger
    said this on Sunday, March 8th 2009 12:48 am

    can’t get program to install as “path not found” error comes up. I have windows vista 32 bit..help as I have to get the “U” back into colour

  5. Ray
    said this on Sunday, February 8th 2009 6:24 pm

    Thank you for making Live Mail more civilised :)

  6. virge
    said this on Wednesday, February 4th 2009 9:00 pm

    thanks a lot!!!!….this solved my problem also…no more problems with spellcheck!!!

  7. Barack
    said this on Sunday, December 14th 2008 6:28 am

    Script works great, doesn’t seem to sell off my credit card details ;)
    Thankyou for creating this, simple and effective,
    Cheers :)

  8. Simon Goode
    said this on Thursday, December 4th 2008 10:44 pm

    Thanks a lot, a simple solution to one of my biggest frustrations, less than a minute to install. Briliant!

  9. Mark
    said this on Wednesday, December 3rd 2008 10:19 pm

    Thanks very much. This is a brilliant tool and has solved one of the bugs which has been drving me mad!

  10. said this on Tuesday, December 2nd 2008 10:49 am

    [...] Windows Live Writer Dictionary Fix [...]

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