In Word for Windows, go to File > Options > Proofing and select Check spelling as you type. On Mac, use Word > Preferences > Spelling & Grammar and select the same option. Word for the web has no single spell-check switch; check the proofing language and make sure spelling checks are not disabled for the text.
Turn on spell check in Word for your platform
| Word version | Where to go | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Windows desktop | File > Options > Proofing | Select Check spelling as you type; check the current document’s exceptions if it is already selected. |
| Mac desktop | Word > Preferences > Spelling & Grammar | Under Spelling, select Check spelling as you type. |
| Word for the web | Review > Editor > Set Proofing Language | There is no single on/off switch. Check the language and ensure Don’t check spelling or grammar is not selected. |
Windows
- Open File > Options > Proofing.
- Under the spelling-check options, select Check spelling as you type.
- If it is already selected, inspect Exceptions for and the setting for hiding spelling errors in the current document. A document-specific exception can suppress underlines while automatic checking remains on.
- To run a manual review, choose Review > Spelling & Grammar. Microsoft also documents F7 as a manual spell-check shortcut in some Office applications; its availability varies by application and version.
Microsoft says Word typically marks spelling errors with red squiggly underlines. Its Windows and Office guidance also documents resetting the spelling and grammar checker if it behaves unexpectedly: Microsoft Support: Check spelling and grammar in Office.
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Mac
- Open the Word menu and choose Preferences > Spelling & Grammar.
- Under Spelling, select Check spelling as you type.
- For a manual review, choose Review > Spelling & Grammar.
Microsoft’s guidance covers Microsoft 365 and Word 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2024; menu details can vary by release. See Microsoft Support: Check spelling and grammar in Office for Mac.
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Word for the web
- Select the affected passage. To check the whole document, press Ctrl+A.
- Choose Review > Editor > Set Proofing Language.
- Confirm the correct language is selected and Don’t check spelling or grammar is not selected.
Microsoft Support explains that Word for the web “doesn’t have a single setting to turn spell check on or off.” Editor can show inline suggestions even when its panel is closed. See Microsoft Support: Check grammar, spelling, and more in Word for the web.
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Why Word may not underline misspelled words
If the main setting is enabled but underlines are missing, work through these checks in order. If only one passage is affected, start with its language and proofing opt-out; if the whole document is affected, also inspect document-level exceptions.
Check the passage’s proofing language
Select the affected text, then choose Review > Language > Set Proofing Language. Set the language that the passage actually uses. Proofing tools must be available for that language; Microsoft’s language guidance explains how to enable an authoring language or obtain proofing tools through Office language preferences: Microsoft Support: Add or edit a language or proofing dictionary.
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In Windows, Word’s proofing language can follow the default Windows keyboard language. For a multilingual document, Detect Language Automatically is available in proofing-language settings, but it only detects languages enabled in Office. Short passages and words shared between languages can be misidentified, so set the language directly when detection gives the wrong result.
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Remove a proofing opt-out
In the proofing-language dialog, clear Do not check spelling or grammar for desktop Word, or Don’t check spelling or grammar in Word for the web. The option can apply to selected text or the entire document, which is why one portion may behave differently from the rest.
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Check document exceptions and learned words
In Windows desktop Word, return to File > Options > Proofing and inspect the Exceptions for controls for the current document. If only a particular word escapes checking after the other settings are correct, it may have been added to a custom dictionary or previously ignored. Remove an accidental dictionary entry or reset ignored words for the document where the relevant option is available.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Automatic underlines versus a manual spell check
Check spelling as you type controls automatic marks while you work. A manual review is a separate action: on desktop Word, use Review > Spelling & Grammar. A correct proofing language and available dictionary matter to both approaches; a manual check is not a substitute for fixing a language mismatch or a spelling-check opt-out.
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