Canva's built-in spell checker catches typos as you type

Canva has a spell checker that works automatically while you're editing text. Red squiggly lines appear under words the tool doesn't recognize, and you can right-click to see suggestions or add words to your personal dictionary. The spell checker runs on text in text boxes, headlines, and captions — anywhere you type directly into a design.

The spell checker is always on by default and requires no setup. It works the same way spell check does in Google Docs or Microsoft Word: it flags potential misspellings in real time, but you decide whether to accept the suggestion or ignore it. Canva's spell checker understands common English words and catches most typos, though it may flag proper nouns or brand names as errors even when they're spelled correctly.

Key Takeaways

  • Red squiggly lines under words mean Canva's spell checker found a potential error — right-click to see correction suggestions.
  • You can add words to your personal dictionary so Canva stops flagging them as errors in future designs.
  • The spell checker works on all text elements in your design, including text boxes, headlines, and captions.
  • Proper nouns, brand names, and technical terms may be flagged as errors even when spelled correctly.
  • Spell check in Canva is automatic and cannot be turned off, but you can ignore suggestions and keep your original text.

How to fix a flagged word

When you see a red squiggly line under a word, right-click on it to open a menu with correction options. Canva will show you suggested spellings at the top of the menu. Click any suggestion to replace the misspelled word instantly.

If the word is spelled correctly and you want to keep it, click "Ignore" to dismiss the flag for that instance only. The word will still be flagged in other places in the same design. If you want Canva to stop flagging a word across all your designs, click "Add to Dictionary" — this tells Canva to treat the word as correct from now on.

Adding words to your personal dictionary

Your personal dictionary stores words you use regularly that Canva's spell checker doesn't recognize by default. This is useful for brand names, technical terms, or words in other languages that you use in multiple designs. Once you add a word, it won't be flagged as an error in any future design.

To add a word, right-click the flagged word and select "Add to Dictionary." The word is saved to your Canva account immediately. If you later want to remove a word from your dictionary, you'll need to flag it again and select "Remove from Dictionary" — Canva does not have a separate dictionary management page.

When the spell checker misses errors

Canva's spell checker catches misspellings but cannot catch every type of error. It will not flag words that are spelled correctly but used in the wrong context — for example, "their" instead of "there," or "its" instead of "it's." It also won't catch repeated words, missing words, or grammar mistakes beyond basic spelling.

Before publishing a design with important text, read through it yourself or paste the text into a more advanced tool like Grammarly or Google Docs. These tools catch grammar and usage errors that Canva's spell checker misses. For designs with minimal text or casual content, Canva's spell checker is usually sufficient.

Spell checking text you've pasted in

If you paste text from another source into a Canva text box, the spell checker runs on that text the same way it does on text you type directly. Any misspellings in the pasted text will be flagged with red squiggly lines. You can fix them using the same right-click method as before.

Pasting text is faster than typing it out, but it means you may inherit errors from the source. If you're pasting from an email or document that wasn't spell-checked, take a moment to scan the text for obvious errors before you paste. Once it's in Canva, the spell checker will help catch what you miss.

Spell checking across multiple text boxes

Canva checks spelling in each text box independently, but the spell checker doesn't have a "check all" button that shows you every error at once. You need to go through each text element in your design and fix flagged words as you see them. This means you should review all your text boxes before you finish editing.

A practical approach is to click through each text box in your design from top to bottom, checking for red squiggly lines as you go. This takes only a few seconds and ensures you catch errors before you save or share the design. If you're working on a design with many text boxes, this step is worth the time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off spell check in Canva?

No, Canva's spell checker is always on and cannot be disabled. If you want to ignore a flagged word, right-click it and select "Ignore" to dismiss the flag for that instance. To stop seeing a word flagged across all designs, add it to your dictionary.

Why is my brand name or proper noun flagged as an error?

Canva's spell checker only recognizes common English words in its built-in dictionary. Brand names, proper nouns, and specialized terms are often flagged as errors even when spelled correctly. Add these words to your personal dictionary so they won't be flagged in future designs.

Does Canva catch grammar mistakes like "their" vs "there"?

No, Canva's spell checker only flags misspelled words, not grammar or usage errors. For grammar checking, copy your text into Google Docs or Grammarly, which catch mistakes like wrong word choice, missing punctuation, and sentence structure problems.

What happens if I ignore a spelling error?

If you click "Ignore," the red squiggly line disappears for that one instance, but the word remains flagged in other places in the same design. The word is not added to your dictionary, so it will still be flagged in future designs. Use "Ignore" for one-time exceptions.

Can I remove a word from my dictionary after adding it?

Yes, but only by flagging it again. Right-click the word and select "Remove from Dictionary." Canva doesn't have a separate page to manage your dictionary, so you can only remove words one at a time as you encounter them in designs.