Spell check is a crucial feature of Microsoft Word, ensuring that your documents are free of spelling errors. However, what do you do when spell check suddenly stops working? This can be a frustrating experience but don’t worry, there are several ways to fix it. In this article, we’ll cover some of the most common reasons why spell check might not be working in Microsoft Word and how you can resolve them.
Spell check is a feature that has become an essential tool for everyone who writes documents. It allows us to catch spelling mistakes and correct them before we finalize our documents. Microsoft Word is one of the most popular word-processing tools in the market, and it offers a powerful spell-check feature. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about spell check in Microsoft Word.
What is Spell Check in Microsoft Word?
Spell Check is a built-in feature in Microsoft Word that checks your document for spelling errors. It scans the entire document and highlights any words that are not spelt correctly. When it finds a spelling error, it suggests a list of possible corrections, and you can choose the right word from the list.
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How to Use Spell Check in Microsoft Word?
Using the Spell Check feature in Microsoft Word is easy. Here’s how you can use it:
- Open the document you want to check for spelling errors.
- Click on the Review tab in the ribbon.
- Click on the Spelling & Grammar button.
- The Spell Check dialogue box will appear. It will start scanning the document for spelling errors.
- When it finds a spelling error, it will highlight the word in red.
- You can either choose one of the suggested corrections or ignore the error.
- If the highlighted word is spelt correctly and you want to add it to the dictionary, click on the Add button.
- When the Spell Check is complete, it will display a message that the check is complete.
- Click on OK to close the Spell Check dialogue box.
- Save the document.
Why is Spell Check not working in Microsoft Word?
There are various reasons why spell check may not be working in Microsoft Word. Below are some of the common causes:
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Spell Check Settings Are Incorrect
Sometimes, spell check may be turned off or not configured correctly in your Word settings. You can check this by going to File > Options > Proofing. Ensure that the “Check spelling as you type” and “Mark grammar errors as you type” options are selected.
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Language Settings Are Incorrect
Spell check in Microsoft Word depends on the language settings. If the language settings are incorrect, the spell checker will not work. Ensure that the language settings are set to the language you are using in your document. To do this, select the text in your document, right-click, and select “Language” from the context menu. Ensure that the correct language is selected.
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Spell Check Dictionary is Not Updated
Microsoft Word uses a dictionary to check for spelling errors. If the dictionary is not updated, it may not recognize new words or changes in spelling. To update the dictionary, go to File > Options > Proofing > Custom Dictionaries. Select the dictionary you want to update and click “Edit Word List”. Add or remove words from the list as necessary and click “OK”.
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Office Installation is Corrupted
If your Office installation is corrupted, it may cause problems with the spell checker. To fix this issue, you can try repairing your Office installation. Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features. Select Microsoft Office from the list of installed programs and click “Change”. Select “Repair” and follow the prompts to repair your installation.
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Third-Party Add-ins or Programs
Third-party add-ins or programs may interfere with the spell checker in Microsoft Word. Try disabling any add-ins or programs that you have installed recently and see if this resolves the issue.
How to Fix Spell Check Not Working in Microsoft Word
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Check the Language Settings
The first thing to do when you realize that your spell check isn’t working is to check your language settings. Ensure that the language you’re typing in is the same as the language set for spell check. If you’re typing in English, then spell check must also be set to English. To check your language settings in Microsoft Word:
- Click on the “Review” tab
- Click on “Language” in the “Proofing” group
- Ensure that the correct language is selected in the “Set Proofing Language” dialogue box
If the correct language is not selected, select the correct language and click “Set as Default.” This will set the language as the default for all new documents.
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Check the Spelling & Grammar Options
If the language settings are correct, the next step is to check the spelling and grammar options. These settings determine how spell check works in Word. To check the spelling and grammar options:
- Click on the “File” tab
- Click on “Options”
- Click on “Proofing”
- Ensure that the “Check spelling as you type” and “Mark grammar errors as you type” options are checked
If these options are not checked, check them, then click “OK.” This should resolve the issue.
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Check the Custom Dictionary
Word uses a custom dictionary to identify words that aren’t recognized by the default dictionary. If you’ve added a word to the custom dictionary and it’s not being recognized, then spell check may not work. To check the custom dictionary:
- Click on the “File” tab
- Click on “Options”
- Click on “Proofing”
- Click on “Custom Dictionaries”
- Ensure that the dictionary you’re using is listed and checked
If the dictionary is not listed, click “Add” to add it to the list.
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Check for Updates
If spell check is still not working, it could be due to an outdated version of Word. Microsoft regularly releases updates to fix bugs and improve performance. To check for updates:
- Click on the “File” tab
- Click on “Account”
- Click on “Update Options”
- Click on “Update Now”
If an update is available, download and install it, then restart Word. This should fix any issues caused by outdated software.
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Repair Office
If none of the above solutions works, it’s possible that there’s a problem with your Office installation. In this case, repairing Office can fix the issue. To repair Office:
- Click on the “File” tab
- Click on “Account”
- Click on “Update Options”
- Click on “Update Now”
- Select “Quick Repair” and click “Repair”
This will repair any damaged files and settings, and should fix any issues with spell check.
Conclusion
Spell check is an essential feature in Microsoft Word, and it’s frustrating when it stops working. However, there are several ways to fix it. By checking your language settings, spelling and grammar options, custom dictionary, updating Word, and repairing Office, you should be able to get spell check working again. If none of these solutions works, it’s possible that there’s a more significant issue with your software, in which case you may need to contact Microsoft support for further assistance.
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