Where to find spell check and turn it on
Spell check is usually on by default in most writing programs, but if you do not see red squiggly lines under misspelled words, you may need to turn it back on. The steps differ depending on whether you use Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Apple Mail, or your web browser's email.
The fastest way to know if spell check is already working: type a word you know is misspelled, like "teh" instead of "the". If a red line appears underneath, spell check is on. If nothing happens, follow the steps for your program below.
Key Takeaways
- Most programs turn spell check on automatically, so look for red squiggly lines under misspelled words to confirm it is working.
- In Microsoft Word, go to File > Options > Proofing and check the box next to "Check spelling as you type".
- In Google Docs, spell check is always on, but you can manually check a document by clicking Tools > Spelling and grammar.
- In Gmail and Outlook web, spell check runs automatically, but you may need to enable it in settings if you turned it off.
- If spell check is on but not catching errors, your language setting may be wrong — check that it matches the language you are writing in.
Turning on spell check in Microsoft Word
Open any document in Word. At the top left, click File, then scroll down and click Options. On the left side of the window that opens, click Proofing.
Look for the section labeled "When correcting spelling and grammar in Word". You should see a checkbox next to "Check spelling as you type". If the box is empty, click it once to turn spell check on. You should also see a checkbox for "Mark grammar errors as you type" — this catches sentence structure problems, not just spelling, and you can turn it on or off the same way.
Click OK at the bottom right to save your changes. Spell check will now run in the background as you type, and misspelled words will show a red line underneath.
Turning on spell check in Google Docs
Spell check in Google Docs is always running in the background. You do not need to turn it on. If you see a red line under a word, right-click it to see spelling suggestions, or click the word to accept or ignore the correction.
If you want to check an entire document at once instead of fixing errors as you go, click Tools at the top of the page, then click Spelling and grammar. A panel will open on the right side showing every spelling and grammar issue in your document. Click each suggestion to accept it, or click the X to skip it.
If spell check is not showing any errors and you think there should be some, check your language setting. Click File, then Language, and make sure the language matches what you are writing in. Google Docs spell check only works if the language is set correctly.
Turning on spell check in Gmail and Outlook web
Gmail and Outlook web both run spell check automatically as you type. If you are composing an email and see a red line under a word, right-click it to see suggestions.
If spell check is not working in Gmail, click the settings gear icon in the top right corner of your inbox, then click See all settings. Scroll down to the "General" tab and look for "Spell check". Make sure the box next to it is checked. Click Save changes at the bottom.
In Outlook web, spell check is on by default. If it is not working, click the settings gear in the top right, then click View all Outlook settings. Go to Mail > Compose and reply and look for "Editor". Make sure it is set to "Enhanced" rather than "Basic" — the basic editor does not include spell check.
What to do when spell check misses errors or flags correct words
Spell check is not perfect. It may miss errors if a word is spelled correctly but used in the wrong context — for example, "their" instead of "there". It may also flag correct words, especially names, technical terms, or words from other languages.
When spell check flags a word you know is correct, right-click it and click Add to dictionary or Ignore all. "Add to dictionary" teaches the program to stop flagging that word in the future. "Ignore all" skips it just in this document. Use "Add to dictionary" for words you use often, like your name or your company name.
For errors spell check missed, read through your document yourself or ask someone else to read it. Spell check catches typos and misspellings, but it cannot catch every mistake in meaning or grammar.
Checking your language setting if spell check is not working
If spell check is turned on but not showing any red lines, the problem is usually a language mismatch. Your program may be set to check spelling in a different language than the one you are writing in.
In Word, go to File > Options > Proofing and look for "Language". Click Set the Office Language Preferences and make sure your writing language is listed under "Office authoring languages and proofing". If it is not there, click Add additional editing languages, find your language, and click Add.
In Google Docs, click File > Language and select the language you are writing in. In Gmail, click the settings gear, go to General, scroll to Language, and choose your language from the dropdown.
Why spell check sometimes stops working
Spell check may turn off on its own if you update your program, change your settings by accident, or switch to a different user account on your computer. If it suddenly stops working after it was working before, go back through the steps above for your program — it is usually just a checkbox that got unchecked.
If you have turned spell check on multiple times and it keeps turning itself off, your program may need an update. Check for updates: in Word, go to File > Account > Update Options. In Google Docs, updates happen automatically. In Gmail and Outlook web, updates also happen automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off spell check if it is annoying me?
Yes. Follow the same steps you used to turn it on, but uncheck the box instead of checking it. In Word, go to File > Options > Proofing and uncheck "Check spelling as you type". In Gmail, go to settings and uncheck the spell check box. You can turn it back on anytime.
Why does spell check flag words I know are spelled right?
Spell check only knows words in its built-in dictionary. Proper nouns like names, places, and brand names are often flagged because they are not in the standard dictionary. Right-click the word and click "Add to dictionary" to teach your program to recognize it in the future.
Does spell check work the same way on my phone?
Phone keyboards usually have their own spell check built in, separate from Word or Gmail. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Keyboard and toggle "Check Spelling" on. On Android, the steps vary by phone model, but usually go to Settings > Language and input > Spell checker and turn it on.
What is the difference between spell check and grammar check?
Spell check catches misspelled words. Grammar check catches sentence structure problems like missing punctuation, subject-verb disagreement, and word choice errors. You can turn them on or off separately in most programs.
Will spell check catch if I use the wrong word, like "their" instead of "there"?
Not always. Spell check only flags words that are misspelled, not words that are spelled correctly but used in the wrong context. Reading your work yourself or having someone else read it is the best way to catch these mistakes.