How to use spell check with PDF

5 minute read
How to Use Spell Check with PDF

It can be extremely awkward when someone points out spelling errors in documents you have created. Not all of us have access to professional editors, or even someone to double-check your work. Knowing how to use spell check for your PDFs will help make sure you catch any unwanted typos.

Even the best spellers can benefit from a tool that gives your document one last look before you finalize it. A good spell check tool will identify any errors and then provide you with the correct spelling for the word. Most importantly, you’ll have the option to ignore it if you want to use customized spelling in your PDF file.

Knowing how to use spell check in applications like Microsoft Word is common enough. It’s been automatically available as far back as we can remember. A good PDF editor, like Soda PDF, will let you replicate that familiar functionally when working with PDF documents.

How to use spell check

Using Soda PDF’s spell check tool, you will see a familiar red squiggle line appear under any word that has a mistake.

Spell check PDF - Soda PDF


When you first open your document, the spell check tool will not be active. You can activate it at any time. 

  • Open the Edit Tab
  • Choose Spell Check.
Online spell checker - Soda PDF 14

The spell check tab will open. You will be presented with the word that has the mistake. If you see this icon, the spell check tool is active, it will disappear when it is disabled.

Online spell check - Soda PDF software


There are a few options available for you.

  • Click Ignore if the word is spelled that way intentionally. This will remove the notification of a spelling mistake.
  • Ignore All will ignore all instances of this word.
Spelling check - Soda PDF Desktop
  • Click any sound icon to have Soda PDF say the word, as it is spelled.
Spelling and grammar check - Soda PDF Desktop
  • Select any of the Suggestions and it will instantly update with the correct spelling.
Check spelling - Soda PDF
  • Click the plus icon to add the word to the dictionary, i.e. confirm its correct spelling. It allows you to add the selected word so that it is not detected by the Spell Check.
Grammar and spelling checker - PDF - Soda PDF 14
  • Click the icon at the bottom of the Spell Check panel to view and edit the list of added words to the dictionary. 
Spell check online - Soda PDF
  • Click the bin icon to delete the word from the list or use the Clear All option to clear the Word List completely.
Add to word list - Edit PDF - Soda PDF


You can verify the dictionary used when checking the spelling here.

  • Click the dictionary if you want to change it.
    • You’ll need to add these dictionaries to Soda PDF first.
Change language PDF - Add dictionaries - Soda PDF
  • Choose the dictionary you want to use from the list.
  • Click SET DICTIONARY.
How to add a dictionary PDF - PDF reader - Soda PDF

You can choose to have Soda PDF use this dictionary automatically when you are typing.

  • Toggle the switch under Detect Language Automatically to enable it.
Edit a PDF file - Add dictionary - Soda PDF
  • Click Apply to confirm your choice.
Change dictionary PDF - PDF editor - Soda PDF
  • You can also right-click the underlined word and navigate to the More option to access the following features in the context menu:
    • Add to Dictionary – allows you to add the underlined word to the dictionary, therefore, making it an approved word;
    • Ignore All – allows you to ignore all suggestions for that kind of word(s);
    • See More – refers you directly to the Spell Check panel from the right side of the application.
Spelling mistakes PDF - PDF reader- Soda PDF

Adding new dictionaries to Soda PDF

You can set up the dictionaries you want in the Options of Soda PDF.

  • Click Options in the right upper corner.
Options PDF - Edit PDF document - Soda PDF
  • Choose Spell Check.
Spell check PDF - PDF software - Soda PDF
  • Choose between the Built-In or Custom dictionaries.
    • The Built-In option will access dictionaries installed on your Windows system. Any dictionaries available in your Microsoft Office applications can be used in Soda PDF. 
    • The Custom allows you to import any additional dictionaries from your system.
How to add a spell check to a PDF - Soda PDF
  • Click on the + icon.
How to add a dictionary to a PDF file - Soda PDF
  • Check the box next to the dictionary you want to add.
    • You can choose more than one at once.
Choosing a dictionary for a PDF - Soda PDF


You can set a default dictionary for your work. This will be at the top of your list of dictionaries.

  • Click on the checkmark next to the dictionary to set it as default.
Default language PDF - Default dictionary - Soda PDF Desktop


Each of these dictionaries will be visible each time you use the spell check feature.

Spell check feature - PDF editor - PDF software - Soda PDF
  • Click on the pencil icon to edit the word list of a dictionary.
Edit word list - How to add a word to a word list in a PDF - Soda PDF

You can remove any of the dictionaries from the spell check options.

  • Click on the Delete button next to the dictionary you want to delete.
Remove a dictionary from a list - PDF solution - Soda PDF

Other spell check options

You have the choice of using spell check when you are typing in your PDF document.

  • Toggle the switch under Check Spelling while Typing to disable/enable it.
How to enable spell checking in a PDF - Soda PDF
  • Toggle the switch under Check Spelling in Text Field Form to disable/enable it.
How to enable spelling check in text field form - PDF form - Soda PDF

You can also disable Soda PDF’s ability to detect the language automatically. This means each time you use the spell check tool, you’ll need to pick the language/dictionary you want to use.

  • Toggle the switch under Detect Language Automatically to disable/enable it.
How to enable automatic language detection in a PDF file - Soda PDF

You can also change the color used to indicate a spelling mistake.

  • Click the circle next to Underline Color.
How to change the color of a text in a PDF - Soda PDF 14
  • Choose the color you want to use.
PDF colors - Change color PDF - Soda PDF

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