Spell check is in the Review tab, and it runs automatically as you type

Microsoft Word checks your spelling in real time — red squiggly lines appear under words it does not recognize. To open the full spell check tool, go to the Review tab at the top of the window, then click Spelling & Grammar. This opens a panel on the right side that walks through every flagged word, one at a time, and lets you accept suggestions, ignore the word, or add it to your dictionary.

The automatic red underlines catch most misspellings as you type, but the Review tab tool is more thorough — it scans your entire document at once and catches errors you might have missed. It also checks grammar, not just spelling, so it flags things like sentence fragments or repeated words.

Key Takeaways

  • Red squiggly lines under words appear automatically as you type, and right-clicking them gives you spelling suggestions when ready.
  • The Spelling & Grammar tool in the Review tab checks your whole document at once and is more complete than relying on the red underlines alone.
  • You can add words you use regularly to your dictionary so Word stops flagging them as errors.
  • Grammar checking is turned on by default in the Review tab tool, but you can turn it off if you only want spelling corrections.

Using the red squiggly line suggestions

When Word underlines a word in red, right-click it to see a list of corrections. The top suggestions are usually the closest matches to what you typed. Click the correct spelling to replace it when ready, or click Ignore All if the word is correct but not in Word's dictionary — like a proper name or technical term.

If you use a word regularly and do not want to see it flagged again, right-click it and select Add to Dictionary. Word will stop marking it as an error in any document you open on this computer. This is useful for business names, product names, or specialized vocabulary in your field.

Running a full spell check from the Review tab

Click the Review tab, then click Spelling & Grammar. A panel opens on the right side showing the first flagged word, the error type (spelling or grammar), and suggested corrections. You can click a suggestion to accept it, or type your own correction in the box.

For each flagged word, you have four choices: Change (replace this instance), Change All (replace every instance in the document), Ignore (skip this one), or Ignore All (skip every instance). When you reach the end of the document, Word tells you the check is complete.

Turning grammar checking on or off

By default, the Spelling & Grammar tool checks both spelling and grammar. If you only want spelling corrections, you can turn off grammar checking. Click File, then Options, then Proofing on the left side. Under "When correcting spelling and grammar in Word," uncheck the box next to Check grammar.

Grammar checking flags things like sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and repeated words. Some writers turn it off because Word's grammar rules are strict and may not match your style. You can always turn it back on the same way.

What spell check does and does not catch

Spell check catches misspelled words and some grammar errors, but it does not catch words that are spelled correctly but used in the wrong context — like "their" instead of "there," or "to" instead of "too." It also does not know whether your facts are accurate or whether your sentences make sense to a reader.

For these reasons, spell check is a first pass, not a final check. Read your document yourself or have someone else read it to catch errors that the tool misses. Pay special attention to homonyms (words that sound the same but have different meanings) and sentences that might be grammatically correct but unclear.

Customizing what spell check ignores

If certain words or phrases appear in every document you write — like your company name or a technical term — you can add them to your dictionary so they stop being flagged. Right-click any flagged word and select Add to Dictionary, or go to File > Options > Proofing and click Custom Dictionaries to manage a list of words Word should always accept.

You can also set Word to ignore words in all capitals, words with numbers, or words with mixed case. In the same Proofing options menu, check the boxes next to the types of words you want to skip. This is useful if your document contains product codes, email addresses, or acronyms that Word keeps flagging.

Spell check in different versions of Word

The location and name of the spell check tool are the same in Word 2019, Word 2021, and Microsoft 365 (the subscription version) — all use the Review tab and Spelling & Grammar button. Older versions like Word 2010 or 2013 use the same tab and button name, so the steps are identical.

If you use Word Online (the free version in your web browser), spell check works the same way: go to Review and click Spelling. The panel that opens is slightly simpler than the desktop version, but it covers the same ground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does spell check keep flagging a word I know is correct?

Word's dictionary does not include every word, especially proper nouns, technical terms, and newer words. Right-click the word and select Add to Dictionary to stop it from being flagged. The word will then be accepted in all your documents on this computer.

Can I check spelling in a different language?

Yes. Highlight the text in that language, then go to Review > Language and select the correct language. Word will then check spelling against that language's dictionary. You may need to read the language pack if it is not already installed.

What is the difference between "Ignore" and "Ignore All"?

Ignore skips just that one instance of the word in your document. Ignore All skips every instance of that word throughout the entire document. Use Ignore All for words you know are correct but do not want to add to your permanent dictionary.

Does spell check work while I am typing, or only when I run it manually?

Both. Red squiggly lines appear automatically as you type, and you can right-click them for when ready suggestions. Running the full Spelling & Grammar tool from the Review tab is more thorough and catches errors the automatic check might have missed.

Can I turn off the red squiggly lines if they distract me?

Yes. Go to File > Options > Proofing, then uncheck Check spelling as you type. The red underlines will disappear, but you can still run the full spell check manually whenever you want.