Firefox is known for having its inline spell checker that underlines misspelled words as you type them. I truly believe that this feature in Firefox has helped the Internet as a whole become more readable by reducing the number of misspellings in even the simplest things, like comments.
Mozilla does provide multiple languages for their dictionaries, but Opera also gets some of its own Ajaxy goodness with a script that has been made up to support spell checking in 27 different languages. Here is everything the script has to offer:
- It’s blazing fast since JavaScript is stored locally
- Inline and dynamic
- AJAX is used to send and receive data
- Support for 27 languages
- Ability to switch language dynamically
If it sounds like something you would like to use just follow these simple steps:
- Download the files here and put them in a folder such as My Documents/OperaScripts.
- In Opera go to Tools > Preferences > Advanced > Content > JavaScript Options > Choose… and select the folder from Step 1.
- Click OK, and then load a page with a text field in it. Click in that field and you should see the spell checker button similar to what is pictured below.
I had it installed in my Opera within 10 or 15 seconds, and at first I was wondering where the heck the spell checker was. Of course, being a computer geek I never feel like reading instructions or anything so I kept trying to figure out why the spell checker wasn’t showing up! Ahh, then I realized that you have to click in a text field and then a little tab will show up below that field, and clicking on the two-way arrow initiates the spell check:
It is still nice to have the inline spell check in Firefox, but this is definitely a step in the right direction for current Opera users. There is also a preferences file that you can download and use with the script so that you can choose to use the spell checker from Gmail (you have to be logged in), Orangoo, or fearphage. Also, if you only enable one language in the preferences then the drop-down box will be completely removed. That way it doesn’t take up quite so much room.
Maybe when Opera 10 rolls around it too will have inline spell check built-in, but until that time this is one script that I will definitely keep installed! Hopefully Opera 10 will also have a management screen for scripts that you currently have installed. 
Source: Opera Watch
That is a really nice addition into Opera. Specially the ability to switch dynamically between languages, a godsend for bilingual people with identity crises.
I think this is the wrong direction. Why should every word I type be sent to someones else’s servers? Spell checking should all be done locally.
Sounds clunky to me. While a poorly implemented spell check may be better than no spell check, Opera should take Microsoft’s lead and steal their ideas and implementations form Firefox.
Actually I think the spell check is far from clunky, and unless you click on the text field you don’t even see the little tab. Spell checking has actually been done on other people’s servers for quite some time if you think about it…that’s how users can spell check documents on Gmail and such. This is just leveraging off of those capabilities.
As commenters before noted, there is benefit of having spellcheck implemented inside the browser – it’s the privacy. On the other hand, no dictionary is perfect. In the age of Web 2, every knowledge is community work, a result of collaboration, so is a shared dictionary. Missing a word? Add it and share it with others.
A combo of both approaches that would take the good of both – a hybrid approach maintaining community perpetual improvement (remember, every language evolves) as well as privacy would be much appreciated, better yet if standardized and utilized across various browser vendors. It would make a new word entry into the shared dictionary and time to time update the locally-stored copy.
I agree that is has been done by other services but it isn’t necessary with desktop software.
There is now [opera.gt500.org] detailing how to install the script for first-time users of Opera’s User JavaScript.
Now, in response to several of the other comments, I’ll admit that you will not always want your comments, forums posts, support requests, and other misc writings sent to some server on the Internet to be checked for typos, but it’s far better than Opera’s Aspell integration, which hasn’t been changed since (I would believe) Opera 6.
Also, Firefox was not the first browser to include in-line spell check. Konqueror has had it for years, and may have even been the first browser to have that feature built-in (although I believe their spell check is powered by Aspell). That fact makes Mozilla/Firefox look somewhat pathetic for having just implemented such a spell checker, and Opera even more so for still not having implemented it.
As far as a community dictionary, the Orangoo server (which includes the one at fearphage.com) uses a Python script to integrate with Aspell, so the English dictionary hasn’t been updated since August of 2004. Currently there is no way (that I know of) for OSpell users to add words to the dictionary.
This script is excellent. Really makes up for Opera’s lack of this valuable feature.
BTW: What dictionary does this script use? I have Aspell installed (for Opera’s built in word-by-word pop-up spell checker) and I want to make sure it’s OK b4 I uninstall it.
Thanks
I’m pretty sure it uses the online Orangoo by default:
[orangoo.com]
I definitely know it doesn’t use the Aspell.
Nice. The more I can uninstall, the better! Thanks for this great tip!
Opera doesn’t luck an inline spell-check feature.
The Opera website states that inline spell checking is supported by default, provided that you have the opensource aspell program installed (for those who don’t know about it — it’s an open source program that enables many applications have spell checking facilities)
That’s not an inline spell checking system though. “Inline” refers to as you type, where the ASpell requires a popup window to go through your misspellings.
i have opera 9.21
i loved the idea of inline spell check like the FF2 in opera
i installed it as above.. and it did not work
plz do let me know if i have to do anything else.. like some hotkeys to enable the spell checker.