# General, language & proofreading

Choose the desktop language, configure local proofreading, prepare offline compilation, and control guided tours.

Open **Settings → General** for preferences that shape everyday work on this device. Changing these settings does not rewrite a project file.

![Settings → General. Proofreading controls are above Offline mode and the tour settings.](https://cdn.oleafly.com/images/screenshots/desktop/docs/settings-general-dark-window-v2.png#view=519,89,883,902)

## Language

Choose **System**, **English**, or **简体中文**. The interface updates while Oleafly is open.

- **System** follows the operating system language.
- **English** keeps the app in English even when the computer uses another language.
- **简体中文** switches Oleafly's menus, settings, tools, messages, and workspace controls to Simplified Chinese.

The setting does not translate your manuscript, change proofreading, or choose the language of an assistant reply. See [Language & localization](/docs/localization/) for the exact boundary.

## Spellcheck

Turn on **Spellcheck** to underline words missing from the selected local Hunspell dictionary. Choose a suggestion or ignore the term for this project, everywhere, or for the current session.

## Grammar & style

Turn on **Grammar & style (Harper)** for English grammar and style suggestions in LaTeX and Markdown Source and Visual editing, plus Typst Source editing. Read a finding's message and rule name before applying its fix.

## English dialect

Choose US, UK, Australian, Canadian, or Indian English for Harper. This changes the conventions it checks; it does not rewrite existing text automatically.

## Regionalism and word choice

- **Regionalism suggestions** flags terms that differ from the chosen English dialect. Turn it off for intentional product names, code, or quoted language.
- **Word-choice suggestions** catches context-sensitive alternatives such as “too” and “to.” Turn it off for a narrower grammar pass.

## Spelling dictionary

Choose English (US), English (UK), English (Australia), German, or French. Hunspell uses that exact offline pack in Source and Visual editing.

The dictionary and Harper dialect do not have to match, but most English papers are easier to review when they do. German and French dictionaries provide spelling, not German or French grammar through Harper.

The full [proofreading guide](/docs/spellcheck-grammar/) covers source masking, project and global dictionaries, dismissed findings, academic-profile rules, and the current Harper limitation.

## Offline mode

Turn on **Offline mode** to make Tectonic compile with cached packages only. The setting also blocks online citation and metadata lookups.

Compile a project successfully while connected before taking it offline, so its required packages are present. An uncached package produces a clear build failure rather than a hidden network request.

Local AI is separate. Follow [Ollama and offline work](/docs/ollama/) to install a model and test an offline assistant workflow.

## Tour guides

Turn on **Enable tour guides** to allow walkthroughs around the Library and workspace. Individual toggles decide which tours may appear.

**Tour progress** shows completed, dismissed, and remaining guidance. Reset a tour when you want to follow it again. Open **Help & About → Start tour** to launch the guide for your current area.

## Manage proofreading choices

Open **Settings → Dictionary** to manage:

- words ignored only in the current project;
- words ignored across every project;
- grammar findings dismissed in the current project;
- Harper rules you turned off;
- academic-profile rules you want to turn back on.

Removing an item makes it eligible for checking again immediately.

## Reset General

Choose **Reset to defaults** at the bottom of the page to restore General preferences. Read the confirmation before applying it; Dictionary and other Settings sections have their own separate resets.