Tag Archives: Thunderbird

spellcheck

Make Mozilla Thunderbird spell check emails

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Mozilla’s Thunderbird has the ability to spell check your emails – However before this feature will work you need to download and enable your dictionary.

Firstly you must locate and download the dictionary of your choice. One of the easiest ways to do this is by using the link provided in options – to find this link click  Tools > Options, within the options click on the Composition tab. You will see a blue hyperlink Download More Dictionaries which will tkae you to an official Mozilla webpage where you can find many different dictionaries.

After downloading the dictionary of choice, run the .xpi file using Mozilla Thunderbird inorder to install the dictionary.

Mozilla Thunderbird Dictionary

Next back on the composition tab enable the Enable spell check as you type. If you have installed your dictionary correctly then you should be able to select your dictionary from the drop-down box provided. Note: If you haven’t installed a dictionary the drop-down will contain no items!

If you are having trouble installing your dictionary you can try to install the add-on by going to Tools > Add-ons and then click the Install button. Browse to the .xpi file you just downloaded and click Open, this will install the dictionary.

In addition you can also enable the option to Check spelling before sending an email, however be aware this will spell check the entire email including previous replies.

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Mozilla Thunderbird Email Composition

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Typically it is accepted that an email contains the body of the current message at the top of the email, followed by a signature below the message and then trailed by any messages from previous messages. This seems logical and makes it easy to read and follow the structure of a conversation, however Mozilla Thunderbird by default does not compose an email in this way.

In Thunderbird you can alter and compose an email which ever way you prefer.  This setting is per account so you could even have different email accounts compose a message differently.

To alter the composition of an email select Tools > Account Settings, you will be presented with a list of options for all you different email accounts. Under the email account you wish to alter select Composition and Addressing. If you set the Automatically quote the original message when replying to enabled then you have the option to set two additional drop-down boxes – which effect the composition of your email.

As demonstrated below, if you choose to compose your email as mentioned previous then alter the drop-down boxes as shown.

  • Start my reply above the quote – where the quote is previous messages in the email

Choosing this then allows you to position your signature:

  • Below the quote- places the signature after all messages including any previous messages
  • Below my reply – places the signature after the current message but before any previous messages

Choose the option which is right for you and then apply your changes by pressing the OK button.

Mozilla Thunderbird Email Composition

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Stop Mozilla Thunderbird asking for the format each time you send an email

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It’s annoying when you get asked the same question repeatedly – so why put up with it from your mail client!

Just a few short clicks and you can stop Mozilla Thunderbird from asking you for the format each time you send an email.

Select Tools > Options, go to the Composition option and select the General tab. Click the Send Options button.

Under Text Format, the following options are available in the drop down:

  • Ask me what to do
  • Convert the message to plain text
  • Send the message in HTML anyway
  • Send the text in both plain text and HTML

Select Send the message in both plain text and HTML unless you have any reason other wise, this will then retain any rich formatting that has been applied to the text of your email while also allowing recipients the option of choosing a plain text alternative – not all mail clients will be capable of receiving an HTML formatted email but they do look nicer when they can. Sending both versions keeps the best of both worlds.

The image below should help provide visual instructions to help you change this option nice and quickly.

Stop Mozilla Thunderbird from asking for the format