Spell Check is in the Review Tab

Open any document in Microsoft Word and look at the ribbon menu at the top. Click the Review tab. On the left side of that ribbon, you will see a button labeled Spelling & Grammar (it looks like a checkmark with lines). Click it to start checking your document.

Word also checks spelling automatically as you type. If you see a red squiggly line under a word, that means Word thinks it is misspelled. Right-click that word to see suggestions, or ignore it if the word is correct.

The automatic checking happens in the background without you doing anything. The Review tab button lets you scan your entire document at once instead of fixing words one at a time as you notice them.

Key Takeaways

  • Spell Check is located in the Review tab at the top of Word, labeled Spelling & Grammar.
  • Word underlines potentially misspelled words with a red squiggly line as you type, and you can right-click them to see suggestions.
  • Clicking the Spelling & Grammar button scans your entire document and shows you every flagged word in one window.
  • You can add words to Word's dictionary so they stop being marked as errors in future documents.

How to Fix Words One at a Time

When you see a red squiggly line under a word, right-click it. A menu will pop up with suggested corrections at the top. Click the suggestion you want, and Word replaces the word when ready.

If the word is spelled correctly but Word does not recognize it (like a name or technical term), you have two choices. Click Ignore All to stop flagging that word in this document only. Click Add to Dictionary to stop flagging it in all your future documents.

This method works best when you catch mistakes as you write. It is faster than waiting until you finish and scanning the whole document.

How to Scan Your Whole Document at Once

Go to the Review tab and click Spelling & Grammar. A window opens showing the first word Word thinks is wrong. The window displays the flagged word, suggestions for what it might be, and buttons for what to do next.

Click a suggestion and then click Change to fix that one word and move to the next. Click Change All if the same mistake appears multiple times and you want Word to fix every instance. Click Ignore to skip this word and move on, or Ignore All to skip every instance of it in this document.

When Word reaches the end of your document, it tells you the check is complete. You can close the window and keep working.

Where Grammar Check Lives

Grammar checking is part of the same Spelling & Grammar button in the Review tab. When you click it, Word flags both spelling mistakes and grammar issues — things like sentence fragments, missing punctuation, or unclear phrasing.

Word shows grammar errors with a blue squiggly line as you type. Right-click them the same way you would a spelling error. The suggestions often explain what the issue is, like "Missing comma after introductory phrase" or "Unclear pronoun reference."

Grammar checking is less strict than spelling checking. Word may flag something that is actually correct but unusual. You can always ignore suggestions that do not match your writing style.

Turning Automatic Checking On or Off

If you find the red and blue squiggly lines distracting while you write, you can turn them off. Go to File > Options > Proofing. Under "When correcting spelling and grammar in Word," uncheck the box next to Check spelling as you type to hide the red lines. Uncheck Mark grammar errors to hide the blue lines.

Turning off automatic checking does not prevent you from using the Review tab button later. You can still scan your document whenever you want — you just will not see errors highlighted while you are writing.

Most people leave automatic checking on because it catches mistakes early. But if you are writing a first draft and do not want interruptions, turning it off temporarily is fine.

What Spell Check Cannot Do

Spell Check catches misspelled words and basic grammar mistakes, but it misses errors that create real words. If you type "their" when you meant "there," or "to" instead of "too," Word will not flag it because those are all spelled correctly. You have to catch those yourself by reading through your work.

Word also does not understand context the way a person does. It might suggest a correction that does not fit what you are trying to say. Always read the suggestion before accepting it.

For documents where accuracy matters — like job applications, formal letters, or published work — spell check is a helpful first pass, but it is not a substitute for reading your document yourself or having someone else review it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word keep flagging a word I know is correct?

Word's dictionary does not include every word, especially proper nouns, technical terms, or less common words. Right-click the word and click Add to Dictionary. Word will stop flagging it in any document you write from that point forward.

Can I change what Word considers a grammar error?

Yes. Go to File > Options > Proofing > Grammar Settings. You can adjust how strict the grammar checking is or turn off specific types of checks. For example, you can tell Word to ignore sentence fragments if you use them intentionally in your writing.

Does spell check work the same way in Word Online?

Word Online has spell check, but it is simpler than the desktop version. You will see red squiggly lines under misspelled words, and you can right-click to fix them. The full Spelling & Grammar window in the Review tab works the same way, but some advanced options are not available.

What happens if I add a word to the dictionary by mistake?

You can remove it. Go to File > Options > Proofing > Custom Dictionaries. Find the dictionary you added the word to, click Edit Word List, find the word, and delete it.