spell - GNU Spell, a clone of Unix `spell'
Contents
Description
GNU Spell is a spelling checking program which prints each misspelled word on a line of its own. It is
designed as a clone of the standard Unix `spell' program, and implemented as a wrapper for Ispell.
Spell accepts as its arguments a list of files to read from. Within that list, the magical file name `-'
causes Spell to read from standard input. In addition, when called with no file name arguments, Spell
assumes that it should process standard input.
Spell is most useful when used in conjunction with other programs, because its output is minimalistic.
Human users are usually more comfortable with verbose output.
Examples
In the first example below, the words printed on standard output are all the (purposely) misspelled words
in 'sample' file. Notice the options '--print-file-name' and '--number' They are responsible for the
prefix you see on each line.
$ spell --print-file-name --number sample
sample:1: Tihs
sample:1: si
sample:1: fo
sample:1: Splel
sample:1: worsd
sample:1: spellled
sample:1: worng
sample:2: fi
sample:2: cna
sample:2: dael
sample:2: fiel
sample:2: Foo
sample:2: bza
sample:2: baz
In the following example, spell will analyze a text from single a command line.
$echo "Thiz is an examply" | spell
Thiz
examply
After install `ibrazilian' (# apt install ibrazilian, on Debian systems) is possible to use `brazilian'
as dictionary:
$ echo "Eu sou brasileiro e carioka" | spell -D brazilian
carioka
To use personal dictionary called mydict.txt:
$ echo "A little test" | spell -d mydict.txt
Files
~/.ispell_default
Considering Spell as a wrapper for Ispell, is possible to make a personal and complementary
dictionary using this file. Insert a word per line.
Name
spell - GNU Spell, a clone of Unix `spell'
Options
-I,--ispell-version
Print Ispell's version.
-V,--version
Print the version number.
-b,--british
Use the British dictionary.
-d,--dictionary=FILE
Use FILE to look up words.
-h,--help
Print a summary of the options.
-i,--ispell=PROGRAM
Calls PROGRAM as Ispell.
-D,--ispell-dictionary=DICTIONARY
Use the named DICTIONARY to look up words.
-l,--all-chains
Ignored; for compatibility.
-n,--number
Print line numbers before lines.
-o,--print-file-name
Print file names before lines.
-s,--stop-list=FILE
Ignored; for compatibility.
-v,--verbose
Print words not literally found.
-x,--print-stems
Ignored; for compatibility.
See Also
ispell(1), aspell(1)
Synopsis
spell [OPTION]... [FILE]...
