MacOS – Dictionary: Syllable-hyphenation interpuncts (dots) missing

dictionarymacmacos

This is regarding the Dictionary app (New Oxford American Dictionary) that comes with Mac OS X. I currently have version 2.2.1 (156) in Mavericks (10.9.1).

In previous versions (Mountain Lion, Snow Leopard, Tiger…), words were shown with interpunctual dots between hyphenate-able syllables—and now they're gone.

These were very useful for copyediting…is there any way (keyboard shortcut, Terminal command) to bring them back? Thanks!

Tiger Dictionary example entry:

Tiger Dictionary example entry

Mavericks Dictionary example entry:

Mavericks Dictionary example entry

Best Answer

You can install the old dictionary from your old OS X install disk.

Here's what I did with my Snow Leopard disk on my Mavericks installation:

  • Quit Dictionary

  • Turn ON hidden file visibility in Finder by typing this into Terminal:

    defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles Yes

  • Rename /Library/Dictionaries/New Oxford American Dictionary.dictionary to something like New Oxford American Dictionary-orig.dictionary, since you'll be putting the older OS X version of this dictionary here.

  • Grab the application Pacifist from http://www.charlessoft.com and run it
  • Pop in your old OS X Install disk to your DVD Drive

  • Find the dictionary package. I found mine here: 

    /Volumes/Mac OS X Install DVD/System/Installation/Packages/OxfordDictionaries.pkg

  • drag this package into Pacifist

  • Within Pacifist, find your dictionary folder named New Oxford American Dictionary.dictionary
  • Drag this folder into /Library/Dictionaries
  • Start up Dictionary
  • Optional: Go into preferences and enable/disable the dictionaries you want. The just-copied dictionary is probably already enabled, since it has the same name as the original dictionary. But you can also enable the original dictionary so that both are active.

  • You can turn off HIDDEN FILE view by typing into Terminal:

    defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles No

Now, I have the syllables displayed on Mavericks!

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