What spell check does and where to find it
Spell check is a tool built into most writing programs that finds words it does not recognize and suggests corrections. It works by comparing each word you type against a dictionary. When it finds a word that does not match, it flags it — usually with a red underline — and offers alternatives you can click to fix it.
Spell check runs automatically in most programs as you type, so you may already see red squiggles under misspelled words without doing anything. But you can also run a full check of your entire document at once, which catches words you missed and shows them all in one place. The location of the spell check tool depends on which program you are using.
Spell check is not perfect. It will not catch words that are spelled correctly but used in the wrong place — for example, "their" instead of "there". It also does not know specialized terms, names, or technical words, so it may flag them as errors even though they are correct. You have to decide whether each suggestion is right for your document.
Key Takeaways
- Spell check runs automatically in most programs and marks misspelled words with a red underline as you type.
- You can run a full spell check of your entire document by pressing Ctrl+A then F7 on Windows, or Cmd+A then Cmd+; on Mac, depending on your program.
- When spell check suggests a correction, you can accept it, ignore it, or add the word to your dictionary so it stops flagging it.
- Spell check catches misspelled words but not words used in the wrong context, so you still need to read your work yourself.
- You can turn off spell check if the red underlines distract you, and run it once at the end instead.
How to run spell check in Microsoft Word
In Microsoft Word, spell check runs automatically as you type. Words that are misspelled appear with a red underline. To run a full check of your entire document at once, press F7 on your keyboard. A panel will open on the right side showing every word Word does not recognize.
For each flagged word, Word shows suggestions in a list. Click the word you want to use, then click Change to replace it. If the word is correct — for example, a name or technical term — click Ignore Once to skip it, or Add to Dictionary to tell Word to stop flagging it in the future. Click Change All if the same misspelling appears many times and you want to fix them all at once.
If you want to turn off the red underlines while you are writing, go to File > Options > Proofing and uncheck the box that says Check spelling as you type. You can still run F7 later to check the whole document at once.
How to run spell check in Google Docs
Google Docs also marks misspelled words with a red underline as you type. To run a full spell check, click Tools in the menu bar at the top, then click Spelling and grammar. A panel will open on the right showing flagged words one at a time.
For each word, Google Docs shows suggestions. Click the correction you want, and it will replace the misspelled word automatically. If the word is correct, click the X to skip it. Unlike Word, Google Docs does not have an "Add to Dictionary" button, but if you use a word often, Google Docs will eventually learn it and stop flagging it.
You can also right-click directly on a red-underlined word and select a correction from the menu that appears. This is faster if you only want to fix one or two words instead of running the full tool.
How to run spell check in Apple Mail and other email programs
Most email programs have spell check built in. In Apple Mail on Mac, spell check runs automatically. If you see a red underline under a word, right-click it and select the correct spelling from the menu. To run a full check before sending, go to Edit > Spelling and Grammar > Check Spelling.
In Gmail, spell check is automatic and you cannot turn it off. Misspelled words show a red underline. Right-click the word to see suggestions. Gmail does not have a separate spell-check tool — it only flags words as you type.
In Outlook on Windows, go to Review > Spelling to run a full check. On Mac, go to Review > Spelling and Grammar. The process is the same as Word: you see suggestions and can accept, ignore, or add words to your dictionary.
What to do when spell check does not recognize a word
Spell check will flag proper nouns, brand names, and technical terms because they are not in its standard dictionary. If you use the same word repeatedly — your company name, a client's name, a specialized term in your field — add it to your dictionary so spell check stops flagging it.
In Word, right-click the word and select Add to Dictionary. In Google Docs, click the word in the spelling panel and select Add to dictionary. Once you add a word, spell check will recognize it in all your future documents in that program.
If a word is correct but you do not want to add it permanently, just click Ignore or Ignore Once. This tells spell check to skip that word this time without saving it to your dictionary.
Why spell check misses some errors
Spell check only catches words that are misspelled. It does not catch words that are spelled correctly but used in the wrong place. For example, if you write "I went to the store to buy some flower" instead of "flour," spell check will not flag it because "flower" is a real word spelled correctly.
Spell check also does not catch grammar mistakes like subject-verb disagreement or missing words. Some programs like Word and Google Docs have a separate grammar check tool that catches these, but it is not perfect either. The only way to catch all errors is to read your work yourself or have someone else read it.
This is why spell check is a tool to help you, not a replacement for proofreading. Use it to catch obvious typos, then read through your document yourself to catch the mistakes spell check missed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does spell check underline my name or company name?
Spell check only knows words in its built-in dictionary. Names and brand names are not in that dictionary, so spell check flags them as unknown words. Add your name or company name to your dictionary once, and spell check will stop flagging it in all future documents.
Can I turn off spell check if the red underlines bother me?
Yes. In Word, go to File > Options > Proofing and uncheck Check spelling as you type. In Google Docs, you cannot turn off the automatic underlines, but you can ignore them and run a full check only when you are ready. In most email programs, you cannot turn it off, but you can ignore the underlines while typing.
What is the difference between spell check and grammar check?
Spell check finds words that are misspelled. Grammar check finds mistakes in how you use words — like using "their" instead of "there," or missing punctuation. Word and Google Docs both have grammar check as a separate tool. Grammar check is less reliable than spell check, so always read the suggestions carefully before accepting them.
Will spell check work in every program I use?
Most modern programs have spell check built in, including Word, Google Docs, Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail. Some older or specialized programs may not have it. If your program does not have spell check, you can copy your text into Word or Google Docs, run the check there, and copy it back.
What should I do if spell check keeps flagging a word I know is correct?
Add it to your dictionary. This tells spell check that the word is correct and should not be flagged in the future. In Word, right-click the word and select Add to Dictionary. In Google Docs, click the word in the spelling panel and select Add to dictionary. The word will then be recognized in all your future documents.