Any word processor worth it comes with a built-in spell checker that helps writers type and proofread their content with minimal effort. Microsoft Word also runs on a spell checker as well as other advanced writing and editing tools. Some users are facing an issue with the Microsoft Word spell checker that stops working on their computer.
Causes could include a change in settings for some errors causing the spell checker to not do its job. As part of the Office suite, the Word app is part of Office 2019, Office 2016, Office 2013, and a cloud version called Microsoft 365. The troubleshooting steps shared below will apply to all versions as the spell checker feature works consistently across all versions. Word versions. If not, we will let you know.
Let’s start.
1. Try Microsoft WordWeb App
Have you subscribed to a Microsoft 365 plan? If so, you can open the same Word document in the web app and check if the Word spell checker works there.
Free OneDrive users can also access Word’s web app. There are some differences between the Word Web App and the desktop app. This will help you quickly spell-check the document for errors. It’s a quick fix until you fix the problem.
2. Enable Spell Check While Typing
The ‘Check spelling as you type’ setting must be checked or enabled for Word to spell check the document in real time and show the familiar zigzag red line under the misspelled word.
Stage 1: Click the File tab.
Step 2: Select Options in the right sidebar towards the bottom of the menu.
Stage 3: Under the Spelling tab, make sure ‘Check spelling as you type’ is checked.
Step 4: If you’re wondering why Word doesn’t capitalize words, it’s because there is a separate option called ‘Ignore words in CAPITAL’.
3. Remove Document from Proof Exceptions
The document you are editing may have been added to the exceptions list; therefore Word does not read corrections for typos.
Go back to File > Options > Proofing and make sure ‘Hide typos in this document only’ is unchecked towards the bottom.
Note that if ‘Check spelling as you type’ is disabled, the option ‘Hide spelling errors in this document only’ will be enabled and greyed out. That means you can’t disable it either. Follow the steps in the previous point to enable it before disabling it.
4. Add Proofing Language
Even if you are writing or editing a document in English, the correct proofing language must be selected in Word. Occasionally, the spellcheck language is accidentally set to a foreign language.
Stage 1: Open File > Options > Language and check if your preferred proofing language is installed. If not, click Add language and select your desired proofing language to install.
Step 2: Select the proofing language from the drop-down menu and click Add.
5. Special Dictionary
Sometimes Word can have trouble identifying what you’re typing. For example, when you use slang or short form, the application will not detect the spelling correctly. In such cases, you can add the typed word to Word’s built-in dictionary.
Right-click the word and select Add to Dictionary under Spelling in the context menu.
6. Update Document Style
Microsoft Word allows users to create and set Styles, a collection of formatting options, including a spell checker that you can set for the entire document. This is separate from the universal options we saw in the steps above.
Stage 1: Under the Home tab, right-click on the selected Style and choose Modify from the context menu.
Step 2: Click Format in the lower left corner of the screen and select Language.
Stage 3: Make sure ‘Do not check spelling or grammar’ is unchecked.
7. Disable Word Add-ins
One of the installed add-ons may be malfunctioning or causing conflict. There are two ways to fix this problem. Disable all add-ons and then re-enable them one by one to find which one is causing the conflict. Or you can open Word in Safe Mode.
To manage add-ons:
Stage 1: Open File > Options > Add-ins and at the bottom of the screen, select COM Add-ins from the drop-down menu next to Manage and click Go.
Step 2: To disable it, simply uncheck the add-on in the popup below. Click the Uninstall button to remove the selected add-in, but this is not necessary to fix spell check not working in Word problem.
If that doesn’t fix things, you should try opening Word in Safe Mode. Here’s how to do this:
Stage 1: Press Windows key + R to open Run prompt, type winword / safe and press Enter.
Step 2: If the spell checker works as intended in Word in Safe Mode, you should troubleshoot the Word or Office application.
8. Repair Office App
Stage 1: Right-click the Windows Start button and select Apps and Features.
Step 2: Search for the version of Microsoft Office you have installed and click the Change button.
Stage 3: There are two options in the following popup. Try Quick Repair first, then Online Repair if that doesn’t work.
9. Use the Grammarly Extension
Here is the difference. Grammarly is a browser extension tool that highlights and suggests typos and lets you quickly fix them with one click. It also has a plug-in for both Word and Outlook desktop apps.
Interestingly, Grammarly works with Google Docs and Word.
a word on the street
Microsoft Word is still the leader of the pack but has faced some serious competition from Google Docs over the past few years. While Google Docs is a great option, it’s too basic for advanced users who need more than just word processors or the depths of the Microsoft Office ecosystem.
Next: Who said you need a desktop app to edit your Word documents? Maximize the full potential of Microsoft Word Online with these great tips and tricks.
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