Open the Review tab to find spell check

Spell check in Word lives on the Review tab at the top of your screen. Click Review, then look for the button labeled Spelling & Grammar — it has an icon that looks like a checkmark with lines. Click it to start checking your document from the beginning.

Word also checks as you type. If you see a red squiggly line under a word, that means Word thinks it is misspelled. Right-click on the underlined word to see suggestions, or ignore it if the word is correct (like a proper name or technical term).

The blue squiggly line means a grammar issue — a sentence structure problem or word choice that seems off. You can right-click those too, but grammar suggestions are less reliable than spelling ones, so read them carefully before accepting.

Key Takeaways

  • Click the Review tab, then Spelling & Grammar to check your whole document at once.
  • Red squiggly lines appear as you type — right-click them to see suggestions or ignore them if the word is correct.
  • You can add words to your dictionary so Word stops marking them as misspelled in the future.
  • Grammar suggestions (blue lines) are less reliable than spelling suggestions, so read them before accepting.

What happens when you click Spelling & Grammar

When you click the Spelling & Grammar button, a panel opens on the right side of your screen. Word shows you the first word it thinks is wrong, highlighted in your document. Below it, you see a list of suggested corrections.

You have four choices: click the correct suggestion to replace the misspelled word, click Ignore Once to skip just this instance, click Ignore All to skip every instance of that word in the document, or click Add to Dictionary to teach Word that this word is correct (useful for names, technical terms, or words in other languages).

Word moves to the next error after you choose. Keep going until the panel says "Spelling and grammar check is complete." This means Word found no more issues — though that does not mean the document is perfect, only that Word recognizes every word.

How to fix a word as you type

You do not have to wait for the full check. As soon as you see a red squiggly line under a word, right-click it. A menu pops up with suggestions at the top. Click the correct spelling to replace it when ready.

If none of the suggestions are right, click away from the menu and retype the word yourself. If the word is correct but Word does not recognize it — your last name, a company name, a technical term — right-click and choose Add to Dictionary. Word will stop marking it as wrong from that point forward.

Turn spell check on or off

Spell check is on by default in Word. If you want to turn it off so you do not see the red and blue squiggly lines, go to File > Options > Proofing. Uncheck the box next to "Check spelling as you type" to hide the red lines, or uncheck "Mark grammar errors" to hide the blue lines.

Most people leave spell check on because the squiggly lines catch mistakes before you finish. But if you are working in a language Word does not recognize well, or if the constant underlining distracts you, turning it off is fine — you can always run the full check later.

What spell check does and does not catch

Spell check catches misspelled words — words that do not match any word in Word's dictionary. It also catches some grammar problems, like missing punctuation or repeated words. But it misses many real errors.

Spell check cannot tell if you used the wrong word on purpose. If you typed "their" instead of "there," or "its" instead of "it's," spell check will not flag it because both are real words. You have to catch those yourself by reading. The same goes for missing words — if you meant to type "I am going to the store" but typed "I am going the store," spell check will not notice because every word is spelled correctly.

This is why spell check is a tool, not a replacement for reading your work. Use it to catch typos, then read through yourself to catch logic errors and word choice mistakes.

Add custom words to your dictionary

If you use a word regularly that Word does not recognize — a company name, a technical term, a name spelled unusually — you can add it to your personal dictionary. Right-click the word when you see the red squiggly line and choose Add to Dictionary.

Once you add a word, Word stops marking it as wrong in any document you open on that computer. If you switch to a different computer or use Word on the web, your custom dictionary does not follow you — you would need to add the word again. But on your main machine, it stays in your dictionary permanently unless you remove it manually.

Use spell check in Word Online

If you use Word through Microsoft 365 on the web (Office.com), spell check works the same way. Red squiggly lines appear as you type, and you can right-click to see suggestions. The Review tab is still there, though the button layout is slightly different — look for Editor instead of Spelling & Grammar.

The web version of Word is less powerful than the desktop version, and its grammar checking is more basic. But spelling suggestions work the same way, and you can still add words to your dictionary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does spell check not catch all my mistakes?

Spell check only knows if a word is spelled correctly, not if you used the right word. If you type "I went to the store to buy some flower" instead of "flour," spell check will not catch it because "flower" is a real word. Read your work yourself to catch these mistakes.

Can I undo an "Add to Dictionary" if I made a mistake?

Yes, but it is not obvious. Go to File > Options > Proofing > Custom Dictionaries. Find the dictionary file, click it, then click Edit. Find the word you added and delete it. This only works on the desktop version of Word, not the web version.

Does spell check work in other languages?

Yes. Go to Review > Language and select the language you are writing in. Word will switch its dictionary to that language. If you mix languages in one document, select each section and set its language separately.

What is the difference between Spelling & Grammar and Editor?

Spelling & Grammar is the basic tool that checks spelling and straightforward grammar. Editor (in Word 365) is a more advanced tool that catches style issues, tone problems, and clarity suggestions. Both check spelling, but Editor gives more detailed feedback.

Can I check spelling without the squiggly lines showing?

Yes. Turn off "Check spelling as you type" in File > Options > Proofing, then use the Spelling & Grammar button whenever you want to check. This way you see errors only when you ask for them, not as you type.