# Spelling and prose

> Check spelling and prose, and allow words your project needs.

The `spelling` configuration runs typos on code, comments, and documentation. The `prose` configuration runs Vale on documentation and comments. gspot selects both in every repository.

## Spelling

typos checks American English by default. `spelling.locale` accepts `en`, `en-us`, `en-gb`, `en-ca`, and `en-au`:

```shell
gspot set spelling.locale en-gb
```

To accept a word, add it with a reason:

```shell
gspot set allowed_words Acmeflow --reason "Acmeflow is our product name."
```

Vale accepts the word too.

## Prose

At level `recommended`, Vale checks ambiguous dates, link text, and image alt text. At level `all`, it adds the full style, with these limits; raising one needs a reason.

| Setting                         | Default |
| ------------------------------- | ------- |
| `prose.max_sentence_words`      | `30`    |
| `prose.max_list_item_words`     | `45`    |
| `prose.max_paragraph_sentences` | `6`     |

The [prose configuration](/reference/configurations/prose/) lists the checks.