How to Spell Check in Microsoft Word: Every Method Explained

Spelling errors slip through even the most careful writers. Microsoft Word has several built-in tools to catch them — but how you access and configure spell check depends on your version of Word, your operating system, and how you've set your preferences. Here's a clear breakdown of every method available.

How Spell Check Works in Word

Word uses two layers of spelling correction:

• Automatic spell check — flags errors in real time as you type, underlining misspelled words with a red wavy line
• Manual spell check — a full document review you trigger yourself, working through errors one by one

Both draw from Word's built-in dictionary, plus any custom dictionaries you've added. The language and dictionary assigned to your document directly affects what gets flagged — so a document set to UK English will flag "color" as an error, while one set to US English won't.

Running a Manual Spell Check

Using the Keyboard Shortcut

The fastest way to run a full spell check is the keyboard shortcut F7. Press it from anywhere in the document, and Word opens the Editor pane (in Microsoft 365) or the classic Spelling & Grammar dialog (in older versions).

Using the Review Tab

1. Click the Review tab in the ribbon
2. Select Spelling & Grammar (the first option in the Proofing group)
3. Work through each flagged word using the options provided

Word will move through the document from your cursor position, so if you want to check the whole document, place your cursor at the top first with Ctrl + Home.

Right-Clicking a Flagged Word

When automatic spell check is on, any red-underlined word can be right-clicked to see:

• Suggested corrections
• Ignore Once or Ignore All (skips this instance or all instances)
• Add to Dictionary (removes it from future flagging permanently)

This is the quickest fix for one-off errors without running a full review.

Turning Automatic Spell Check On or Off

Some users turn off real-time spell check to avoid distraction while drafting. To toggle it:

1. Go to File → Options → Proofing
2. Under When correcting spelling and grammar in Word, check or uncheck:
   • Check spelling as you type
   • Mark grammar errors as you type

You can also apply these settings only to the current document by using the dropdown at the bottom of that same options screen — useful if you're working in a document with lots of technical terms or code that would otherwise flood the screen with red lines.

The Editor Pane (Microsoft 365)

In Microsoft 365 versions of Word, the traditional Spelling & Grammar dialog has been replaced by the Editor pane — a more comprehensive writing assistant. It categorizes issues into:

The Editor pane gives a document score and lets you work through issues by category. Spell check specifically lives under the Spelling section. Users on older perpetual licenses (Word 2016, 2019, 2021) see a stripped-down version of this without the AI-assisted suggestions.

When Spell Check Misses Errors — or Flags Too Much

Spell Check Is Disabled for Part of the Document

Word allows spell check to be turned off at the text level, not just the document level. If a specific paragraph or section isn't being flagged, it may have been formatted with "Do not check spelling or grammar" enabled:

1. Select the affected text
2. Go to Review → Language → Set Proofing Language
3. Uncheck Do not check spelling or grammar

This often happens when text is pasted from another source with different formatting properties.

The Wrong Language Is Assigned

If Word is spell-checking against the wrong language dictionary, real errors won't get caught and correct words will be flagged incorrectly. Check the language by:

1. Selecting all text (Ctrl + A)
2. Going to Review → Language → Set Proofing Language
3. Confirming the correct language is selected

Custom Dictionary Conflicts

Words added via Add to Dictionary are saved to your custom dictionary. If a misspelling was accidentally added, it will never be flagged again. To clean this up:

• Go to File → Options → Proofing → Custom Dictionaries
• Select your dictionary and click Edit Word List to remove incorrect entries

Spell Check on Word for Mac

The process is nearly identical, with minor navigation differences:

• Manual spell check: Command + Option + L, or Tools → Spelling & Grammar
• Proofing settings: Word → Preferences → Spelling & Grammar
• Right-click behavior works the same way

The Editor pane is available in Word for Mac under Microsoft 365 subscriptions, matching the Windows experience.

Word for Mobile and Web

Word Online (browser-based) includes basic spell check with red underlines and right-click suggestions, but the full Editor pane and advanced grammar tools are limited compared to the desktop app.

Word on iOS and Android supports automatic spell check and manual correction through right-tapping flagged words, but the Proofing settings panel is more limited than the desktop version.

What Actually Determines Your Experience 🔍

The spell check tools available to you — and how well they work — come down to a few key variables:

• Your Word version: Microsoft 365 vs. perpetual license (2016/2019/2021) vs. web vs. mobile
• Document language settings: Which dictionary is actually active
• Proofing preferences: What's been enabled, disabled, or overridden at the document or text level
• Custom dictionary state: Whether past "Add to Dictionary" decisions are affecting current results

Two people using "Microsoft Word" can have meaningfully different spell check experiences depending on these factors — which is why the same steps don't always produce the same result.