If Word is not underlining mistakes—or keeps flagging a correct name—the cause may be a proofing setting, language choice, or dictionary entry rather than spell check itself. These 10 controls help you find the cause and choose the right fix in Word for Windows, Mac, or the web.
Paths and labels can vary by app version and language. Microsoft’s instructions cover multiple Word editions, so a control may not appear identically in every build.
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Where spell-check controls differ by platform
| Word version | Where to start | What kind of control |
|---|---|---|
| Windows desktop | File > Options > Proofing | Includes a general “Check spelling as you type” setting and document-level exceptions. |
| Mac desktop | Word > Preferences > Spelling & Grammar | Microsoft documents the automatic-check setting here; labels may differ by version. |
| Word for the web | Review > Editor > Set Proofing Language | No single spell-check on/off setting. The documented way to suppress checking is to apply “Don’t check spelling or grammar” to selected text or the document. |
For current instructions, see Microsoft’s spell-check guidance for Office and its page on spell check in Word for the web.
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10 Word spell-check options worth knowing
1. Turn on live spell check in desktop Word
In Windows desktop Word, open File > Options > Proofing and enable Check spelling as you type. On Mac, Microsoft documents the route Word > Preferences > Spelling & Grammar. If red underlines have disappeared, check this setting before assuming Word has stopped checking.
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2. Hide error marks for one document
Desktop Word can hide spelling and grammar errors in a particular document even when automatic checking is enabled generally. If only one file lacks underlines, look for document-specific proofing exceptions in Word’s Proofing options rather than switching the global setting repeatedly.
3. Recheck items you previously ignored
If you chose to ignore a spelling or grammar issue earlier, Word may not flag it again in the same way. In Windows desktop Word, use File > Options > Proofing > Recheck Document to reset previously skipped items, then run the check again. The exact labels can vary across versions.
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4. Add a correct word to the custom dictionary
For a name, product term, or specialist word that Word repeatedly flags, right-click its red underline and choose Add to Dictionary. Word will recognize the word in future checks, avoiding repeated false alarms. See Microsoft’s guide to adding or editing dictionary words.
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If a word was added by mistake, open the Custom Dictionaries controls and select the dictionary to inspect or edit its word list. Removing an incorrect entry may require editing that list. Microsoft notes that removing a word added to a custom dictionary is currently unavailable in new Outlook; that Outlook limitation should not be assumed to apply to every Word build.
6. Choose which custom dictionary receives additions
Word saves additions to a default custom dictionary, but you can choose which dictionary is the default, including one associated with a particular language. This is useful when you keep language-specific terminology separate. Check the selected dictionary before adding a word if you maintain more than one.
7. Assign a proofing language to selected text
Select the text, then choose Review > Language > Set Proofing Language. Set the language that matches the passage. This matters for multilingual documents and regional spelling differences: a correctly spelled word under one language setting may be flagged under another. Microsoft’s language setup instructions explain the related options.
8. Use automatic language detection with care
Detect Language Automatically can help in multilingual writing, but Microsoft warns it may not identify a non-default language in a short passage. Detection also depends on the relevant language and proofing tools being available. For a brief sentence or a section that keeps getting marked incorrectly, assigning the language directly is more dependable.
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The Set Proofing Language dialog includes Do not check spelling or grammar. If it is enabled for a paragraph, that text will not receive the usual marks. Clear the option to resume checking. In Word for the web, Microsoft’s documented route is to select the relevant text—or press Ctrl+A to select the document—then go to Review > Editor > Set Proofing Language and adjust the setting.
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10. Keep AutoCorrect separate from spell check
AutoCorrect substitutions and spelling underlines are different features. The Replace text as you type option controls automatic substitutions; it does not serve as the spell-check toggle. Word for the web offers a more limited set of AutoCorrect options than desktop Word. See Microsoft’s instructions to turn AutoCorrect on or off.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why is spell check not working in Word?
Check the likely causes in this order, especially when only some text is affected:
- Automatic checking: On desktop Word, confirm the automatic-check setting for your platform.
- Proofing language: Select the text and verify that its language matches what you intended to write.
- Language tools: Confirm that the language and its proofing tools are available and enabled.
- Excluded text: Check that “Do not check spelling or grammar” is not selected for the passage.
- Language detection: If relying on automatic detection, try setting the language manually, particularly for short passages.
- Custom dictionary: Check whether the unmarked word was added to a custom dictionary, including in an unintended form.
Microsoft covers these causes in its guidance for troubleshooting spelling and grammar in multiple languages.
Do all languages get the same proofing features?
No. Microsoft’s current Editor language availability table distinguishes spelling, grammar, and refinement support, and languages do not all have the same refinements. Check the table for the language you use rather than assuming every Editor feature is available in every language.
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