As an aid to authors and editors of fisheries science papers, AFS is pleased to offer a complimentary fish name spellchecker. The spellchecker is based on the 2013 seventh 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 seventh edition is included in the spellchecker. 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).

For Word 2010 and Word 2013 Users (PC)

Download our spellchecker file (“pub_spellcheck.dic”) by right-clicking HERE. Select “Save Link As.” In the drop-down menu under “Save as Type” select “All files” and then select the location where you wish to save the file, such as a folder on your C drive.

NOTE: This downloaded dictionary file must remain somewhere on your computer in order to use the fish name spellchecker.

1. In Microsoft Word click “File” then “Options,” then “Proofing.”
2. Make sure the “Suggest from main dictionary only” box is NOT checked. Click “Custom Dictionaries.”
3. Click Add.
4. Browse to the directory where you stored the dictionary file (“pub_spellcheck.dic”) and double-click that file.
5. Both “CUSTOM.DIC” and “pub_spellcheck.dic” should now  appear, and be checked.
6. Click Okay.

The spellchecker is ready to use.

Comments/Suggestions?

Contact AFS Interim Publications Director Laura Hendee at [email protected] or 301-897-8616, ext. 227.