VERO: how to install LibreOffice spell checker

Portuguese is a difficult language, full of exceptions in its many rules. However, more difficult than speaking is writing in Portuguese. Fortunately, there are spell checkers (aka the tools that can save your texts), whether in text documents, browsers, emails and more. In this sense, a broker that stands out for its efficiency is the VERO.

O VERO is the acronym for MOREifier Orthographic of LibreOffice, a free extension that aims to identify and correct spelling errors. It is worth mentioning that he was the first corrector to adapt to the spelling agreement in force since 2009 (the same one that gave and still gives a lot of headache and generates many doubts when writing).

In 2013, the team responsible for developing the VERO developed a grammar checker based on a native tool of LibreOffice, Light Proof, an application based on Python. It is now available for English, Russian, Hungarian and Portuguese, which is VERO.

One of the great differentials of VERO is that it has a lower rate of false positives, greater identification of less frequent words, language addictions and more. At project page there is a document that explains the entire operation of the corrector, including what he can identify in the text.

How to install VERO

The truth is that one of the great difficulties in using the LibreOffice is the fact that it doesn't always come with a Portuguese dictionary on installation for spell checking (especially when it's already installed on an operating system whose default language is set to English). However, salvation can be “better than the order”, since the VERO is able to identify errors that other brokers would not.

The first step is to download the installation file, which can be done in page LibreOffice. You can choose between European or Brazilian Portuguese. Currently, the latest version (3.2) is only available for Brazilian Portuguese. It contains grammar, spelling and hyphenation checkers and can be installed from LibreOffice 3.3 onwards. However, if there is an error, it is necessary to install 3.0 first and then 3.2 (without uninstalling 3.0). You can also download individual modules if you prefer.

After saving the file to your computer, go to the directory where you saved it and double-click the downloaded file. Installation starts automatically. After installing, just close the installation manager window.

You can also choose to install the spell checker directly from LibreOffice, with the program open. To do this, click on “Tools” and then on “Extension Manager”. Then click on “Add” in the Extension Manager window, search for the downloaded file (it is an .oxt file) and click on “Open”. After that, the corrector is installed.

To make any changes, you can go to the “Tools” menu and then “Options” in Libre Office. Then, just click on “Language Settings” and then on “Grammar Checker”. With the window open, you choose the options and then click “Ok”.

Using VERO

To use the spell checker, it's simple. When typing your text, you can see that it makes two underlines: the blue one and the red one. Blue is for “suggestions”, while red is for wrong words. When right-clicking, it indicates the reason why you underlined the text and shows you the correction options. You can also do the same check by clicking on the spell check option in the top menu.

For purposes of comparison, look at an example of the same sentences written in the LibreOffice (like VERO installed) and in WPS Office (with corrector in Portuguese installed). It is noticed that the VERO it is much more “sensitive” to possible Portuguese mistakes made, going far beyond the commonly identified mistakes.

Still, it is interesting to point out that it is possible to contribute to the project. When typing a word and noticing that it has been highlighted in red, that is, it was not recognized by the broker as an existing word, you can send an email to the VERO (ppgad@pucrs.br) with the word (or list of words). You just need to make sure the word is spelled correctly, of course. The contribution is voluntary (based on the LGPL V3 and Mozilla Public License).

Regardless of the text editor you use, it's always important to have a grammar checker. That's because, even if your Portuguese is impeccable, typos can cause a lot of damage if they go unnoticed.

However, it is also important to remember that, despite being very useful tools, you cannot trust the broker 100% (regardless of which it is). Always review your text files carefully. Fortunately, this job is much simpler due to the tools already developed for spell checking. Too bad they still haven't invented a spell checker for when we write on paper, isn't it?

Do you use any other brokers? Leave your opinion about it in the comments below.