Turn on spell check and fix errors as you type

Microsoft Word checks your spelling automatically as you type. Red squiggly lines appear under words Word doesn't recognize — these are usually misspellings, but sometimes they're correct words that aren't in Word's dictionary. You can fix them one at a time by right-clicking each red line, or run a full spell check of your entire document at once using the Review tab.

The automatic checking happens in the background on most versions of Word. If you don't see red squiggly lines under misspelled words, the feature may be turned off, or you may need to run a manual spell check to catch everything at once.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any red squiggly line to see correction suggestions and fix the word immediately.
  • Open the Review tab and select Spelling & Grammar to check your entire document at once.
  • Word's dictionary doesn't include all correct words, so you can add words you use often to avoid false corrections.
  • Automatic spell check can be turned on or off in Word's options if you want to disable or re-enable it.

Fix spelling errors one word at a time

When you see a red squiggly line under a word, right-click directly on that word. A menu appears with correction suggestions at the top. Click the correct spelling to replace the misspelled word instantly.

If the word is spelled correctly but Word doesn't recognize it — for example, a proper name or technical term — you have two options. Click "Add to Dictionary" to teach Word that this word is correct, and it won't flag it again in any document. Or click "Ignore All" to skip this word only in the current document without adding it permanently.

Run spell check on your entire document at once

To check the whole document instead of fixing words one by one, open the Review tab at the top of Word. Look for the button labeled "Spelling & Grammar" (in some versions it may say just "Spelling"). Click it to start a full scan.

Word opens a panel on the right side showing the first error it found. The panel displays the misspelled word, suggestions for corrections, and buttons to choose your action. Click the correct spelling from the suggestions, or type the correct word yourself in the box and click "Change". To skip a word without fixing it, click "Ignore" or "Ignore All".

Word moves to the next error and repeats this process until it reaches the end of your document. When the scan is complete, a message appears saying the spell check is done.

Turn automatic spell check on or off

If you don't see red squiggly lines under misspelled words, automatic spell check may be turned off. To turn it back on, click File in the top left corner, then select Options. In the left menu, click "Proofing".

Look for a checkbox that says "Check spelling as you type" or similar wording (exact phrasing varies by Word version). Make sure this box is checked. If it's already checked but you still don't see red lines, scroll down and look for "Mark grammar errors as you type" — both features work together. Click OK to save your changes.

Add words to Word's dictionary so they stop being flagged

Word's built-in dictionary doesn't include every correct word. If you use technical terms, brand names, or uncommon words regularly, you can add them to your personal dictionary so Word stops marking them as errors.

Right-click the red squiggly line under the word and select "Add to Dictionary". Word stores this word and won't flag it again in any document you create. If you later want to remove a word from your dictionary, you'll need to access Word's options — this process varies by version, so check Microsoft's support site for your specific version of Word if you need to delete a word you added by mistake.

Check grammar along with spelling

Word can also check for grammar errors like incomplete sentences, subject-verb disagreement, and punctuation mistakes. When you open Spelling & Grammar from the Review tab, it checks both spelling and grammar in one scan. Grammar errors appear with blue or purple squiggly lines (depending on your Word version).

The Spelling & Grammar panel shows grammar suggestions the same way it shows spelling corrections. You can accept the suggestion, ignore it, or make your own edit. Keep in mind that grammar checking is less reliable than spell checking — Word sometimes flags correct sentences or misses real errors — so review its suggestions carefully before accepting them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word keep marking a correct word as misspelled?

Word's dictionary doesn't include every word in the English language. If it's a word you use often, right-click it and select "Add to Dictionary". Word will then recognize it in all your documents. If it's a one-time word, you can just click "Ignore" to skip it without adding it.

Can I check spelling in a different language?

Yes. Select the text you want to check, then go to the Review tab and click "Language". Choose the language you want Word to use for spell checking that section. Word will then check spelling against that language's dictionary.

What's the difference between Spelling & Grammar and just Spelling?

Spelling checks only for misspelled words. Spelling & Grammar checks for both misspelled words and grammar mistakes like incomplete sentences or wrong punctuation. The Spelling & Grammar tool is more thorough but also flags more items, some of which may be correct.

Does spell check catch all my mistakes?

No. Spell check catches misspelled words and some grammar errors, but it misses mistakes like using "their" instead of "there" — both are spelled correctly, so Word doesn't flag them. Always read your document yourself or have someone else review it for errors spell check can't catch.