see: http://wsms.wikiplanet.com/mediawiki/index.php/Abiword
When you create a document with abiword and click on spell check it doesn't find any errors.
The solution is to download http://www.puppylinux.ca/tpp/bugs/abiword_dictionary_english.pet. After downloading the .pet file, click on it and it will be installed.
The dictionary is installed in /usr/share/AbiSuite-2.4/dictionary/ George -- KPLUG-List@kernel-panic.org http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list