Microsoft Word has a built-in spell checker to correct spelling and grammar mistakes. Here is how to turn on or turn off spell check in Word.
Like any decent word processor, Microsoft Word has a built-in spell checker. Compared to other default spell checkers, Word spell check and auto-correct are miles better. A few of the main reasons being its extensive library and customizability. Generally, the spell and grammar checker and autocorrect features are enabled by default. Whenever there is a typo or grammar mistake, Word highlights them with red squiggly and blue double lines. You can then right-click on the word or sentence and correct it using the available suggestions. If the typo is in the auto-correct dictionary, it is corrected automatically as you type.
If Word does not show spelling and grammar errors, you have to turn on the spell check in Word manually. On the other hand, if the red squiggly lines and blue double lines distract you from writing, you can turn off the spell check in Word. In addition to that, if you are using third-party spell and grammar checkers like Grammarly, it better to turn off default Word spell-check.
In this quick guide, I will show you how to turn on spell check in Word to correct spelling and grammar errors and turn off spell check in Word if you don’t need it.
Turn on spell check in Word
Follow the below steps to turn on spell check in Word. Once turned on, Word automatically highlights spelling and grammar mistakes.
- Open the Word application.
- Click “File” on the Ribbon menu.
- Click the “Options” option on the sidebar.
- Select the “Proofing” tab on the sidebar in the Options window.
- Choose the “Check spelling as you type” option.
- Select the “Mark grammar errors as you type” option.
- Choose the “Frequently confused words” option.
- Choose the “Check grammar with spelling” option.
- Click the “Ok” button.
- Restart the Word application.
First, open Word. After opening it, click on the “File” menu and select “Options” on the sidebar. If your screen is small, the Options option will be available in the “More” option.
In the Options window, go to the “Proofing” tab on the sidebar. Next, select the checkboxes of the following options to enable spell check in Word. Once that is done, click the “Ok” button to save changes.
- Check spelling as you type
- Mark grammar errors as you type
- Frequently confused words
- Check grammar with spelling
Finally, restart Word to make sure the changes took effect.
Turn off spell check in Word
If you don’t want to use the default spell check or using a third-party spell and grammar check tool, follow the below steps to turn off spell check in Word.
- Open the Word application.
- Click “File” on the Ribbon menu.
- Click the “Options” option on the sidebar.
- Select the “Proofing” tab on the sidebar in the Options window.
- Uncheck the “Check spelling as you type” option.
- Uncheck the “Mark grammar errors as you type” option.
- De-select the “Frequently confused words” option.
- Uncheck the “Check grammar with spelling” option.
- Click the “Ok” button.
- Restart the Word application.
Open the Word application and click “File -> Options.” Next, select “Proofing” on the sidebar. After that, uncheck the following options and click the “Ok” button to save changes.
- Check spelling as you type
- Mark grammar errors as you type
- Frequently confused words
- Check grammar with spelling
Next, restart Word to make sure the changes took effect.
Even after disabling the spell check feature, you can add a spell and grammar check icon to the quick access toolbar and click on it to force Word to check the document for mistakes.
That is all. It is that simple to turn on spell check in Word and turn off spell check in Word.
I hope that helps.
If you are stuck or need some help, comment below, and I will try to help as much as possible.
