.\" Text automatically generated by txt2man
.TH spell 1 "09 Jan 2023" "spell-1.1" "GNU Spell, a clone of Unix spell"
.SH NAME
\fBspell \fP- GNU Spell, a clone of Unix `spell'
\fB
.SH SYNOPSIS
.nf
.fam C
\fBspell\fP [OPTION]\.\.\. [FILE]\.\.\.

.fam T
.fi
.fam T
.fi
.SH 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 `\fBspell\fP'
program, and implemented as a wrapper for Ispell.
.PP
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.
.PP
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.
.SH OPTIONS
.TP
.B
\fB-I\fP, \fB--ispell-version\fP
Print Ispell's version.
.TP
.B
\fB-V\fP, \fB--version\fP
Print the version number.
.TP
.B
\fB-b\fP, \fB--british\fP
Use the British dictionary.
.TP
.B
\fB-d\fP, \fB--dictionary\fP=FILE
Use FILE to look up words.
.TP
.B
\fB-h\fP, \fB--help\fP
Print a summary of the options.
.TP
.B
\fB-i\fP, \fB--ispell\fP=PROGRAM
Calls PROGRAM as Ispell.
.TP
.B
\fB-D\fP, \fB--ispell-dictionary\fP=DICTIONARY
Use the named DICTIONARY to look up words.
.TP
.B
\fB-l\fP, \fB--all-chains\fP
Ignored; for compatibility.
.TP
.B
\fB-n\fP, \fB--number\fP
Print line numbers before lines.
.TP
.B
\fB-o\fP, \fB--print-file-name\fP
Print file names before lines.
.TP
.B
\fB-s\fP, \fB--stop-list\fP=FILE
Ignored; for compatibility.
.TP
.B
\fB-v\fP, \fB--verbose\fP
Print words not literally found.
.TP
.B
\fB-x\fP, \fB--print-stems\fP
Ignored; for compatibility.
.SH EXAMPLES
In the first example below, the words printed on standard output are
all the (purposely) misspelled words in 'sample' file. Notice the
options '\fB--print-file-name\fP' and '\fB--number\fP' They are responsible for the
prefix you see on each line.
.PP
.nf
.fam C
    $ 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

.fam T
.fi
In the following example, \fBspell\fP will analyze a text from single a command
line.
.PP
.nf
.fam C
    $echo "Thiz is an examply" | spell
    Thiz
    examply

.fam T
.fi
After install `ibrazilian' (# apt install ibrazilian, on Debian systems) is
possible to use `brazilian' as dictionary:
.PP
.nf
.fam C
    $ echo "Eu sou brasileiro e carioka" | spell -D brazilian
    carioka

.fam T
.fi
To use personal dictionary called mydict.txt:
.PP
.nf
.fam C
    $ echo "A little test" | spell -d mydict.txt

.fam T
.fi
.SH FILES
.TP
.B
~/.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.
.SH SEE ALSO
\fBispell\fP(1), \fBaspell\fP(1)
.SH AUTHOR
Spell was written by Thomas Morgan <tmorgan@pobox.com> for the Free Software
Foundation, Inc.
.PP
The first version of this manual page was written by Dominik
Kubla <dominik@debian.org>.
.PP
The current version was fully rewritten by Joao Eriberto Mota
Filho <eriberto@debian.org>.
.PP
Since the first version, this manual page was written for the Debian
project (but may be used by others).