Using LanguageTool to check grammar in LibreOffice

LibreOffice is a powerful, free, open-source office-productivity suite that you can run under a Linux, Mac OS X or Microsoft Windows operating system. LibreOffice has a built-in spelling checker. You can install a grammar checker by adding a LanguageTool extension.

Though the procedures below specifically apply to the Ubuntu distribution of the Linux operating system, they also generally apply to the OS X and Windows operating systems.

Adding the LanguageTool extension - To add the LanguageTool extension to your Ubuntu Linux operating system, do the following:

1. Go to the LibreOffice Extensions website, and then scroll to LanguageTool.
2. Click LanguageTool to open its window.
3. Scroll to the Current Release, such as LanguageTool 1.7, and then click Get Language Tool for all platforms to download it to your specified download folder.
4. Open a new LibreOffice Writer document, click Tools and then click Extension Manager to display its window.
5. Click Add to display the Add Extensions page.
6. Select LanguageTool-stable.oxt, and then click Open to add LanguageTool to your LibreOffice extensions.
7. Click Close to close the Extension Manager window and redisplay your LibreOffice Writer document.

Configuring LanguageTool - To configure LanguageTool, do the following:

1. Add the LanguageTool extension according to the procedure above.
2. In a LibreOffice Writer document, click Tools, click LanguageTool and then click Configuration to display the LanguageTool Options window.
3. Select a language, such as English, and then click OK.
4. Click Tools, click Options, click the arrow at the left of Language Settings, click Writing Aids, select Check grammar as you type and then click OK.
5. Verify that LibreOffice indicates grammar errors through blue, wavy underlines, and spelling errors through red, wavy underlines.