Where to find spell check and how to switch it on
Spell check is usually on by default, but if you do not see red squiggly lines under misspelled words, you may have turned it off or need to enable it in your specific program. The steps differ depending on whether you use Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Outlook, Gmail, or another writing tool. Most programs let you toggle spell check on and off in one or two clicks, and some let you choose how strict the checking should be.
The reason spell check sometimes appears off is that you may have disabled it to reduce distraction while drafting, or it may be paused because you are working in a language the program does not recognize. Once you know where the setting lives in your program, turning it back on takes seconds.
Key Takeaways
- Spell check is usually on by default in Word, Google Docs, and Gmail, but red squiggly lines only appear if the feature is active.
- In Microsoft Word, spell check lives under the Review tab, where you can turn it on or run a full check of your document.
- In Google Docs, spell check is always on but you can access it through the Tools menu to see all flagged words at once.
- In Gmail and Outlook, spell check is built in and usually requires no setup, but you can access settings if you need to change the language or disable it.
- If spell check is not working, check that you have selected the correct language and that the program is not in a mode that disables it.
Turning on spell check in Microsoft Word
Open your document in Word and look at the top menu bar. Click the Review tab. In the Proofing section, you will see a button labeled Spelling & Grammar (it looks like a checkmark with letters). Click it to run a full check of your entire document, which will flag every misspelled word and some grammar issues.
If you want spell check to work as you type — showing red squiggly lines under mistakes — go to File > Options > Proofing. Make sure the box next to Check spelling as you type is checked. You should also check Mark grammar errors as you type if you want grammar suggestions too. Click OK to save these settings.
If you see red lines but want to turn them off temporarily, you can uncheck these same boxes. Word will stop marking errors but will still let you run a full check whenever you click the Spelling & Grammar button.
Turning on spell check in Google Docs
Spell check is on by default in Google Docs and works as you type. You should see red underlines appear under misspelled words automatically. If you do not see them, click Tools in the top menu, then click Spelling and grammar. A panel will open on the right side showing every flagged word in your document.
From this panel, you can click each word to see suggestions, accept the suggestion, or ignore it. You can also change the language Google Docs is checking against — click Tools > Language and select the language you are writing in. If you selected the wrong language, spell check may flag correct words or miss real mistakes.
Google Docs does not have an on/off toggle for spell check the way Word does. The feature is always active, but you can ignore the red lines and only run a full check when you choose to open the spelling panel.
Turning on spell check in Gmail
Gmail has spell check built in and it runs automatically as you type. When you compose a new email, any misspelled words will show a red underline. Right-click the underlined word to see correction suggestions, or click the suggestion to replace it.
If you do not see red underlines, check that you are using a supported browser — spell check works best in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. If you are using an older browser or a mobile app, spell check may not be available. On a computer, you can also try refreshing the page or clearing your browser cache if spell check has stopped working.
Gmail does not have a settings menu for spell check. The feature is either working or it is not, depending on your browser and device. If it is not working on your computer, try composing an email in a different browser to see if the problem is specific to the one you usually use.
Turning on spell check in Outlook
Outlook checks spelling as you type by default. Misspelled words appear with a red underline. Right-click any underlined word to see suggestions and choose a correction. If you do not see red underlines, go to File > Options > Mail > Spelling and Autocorrect. Make sure Check spelling as you type is checked.
You can also run a full spell check before sending. Click Review in the top menu and then Spelling to check the entire message at once. This is useful if you want to catch every error before hitting send, rather than relying on the underlines as you type.
Outlook also lets you set the language it checks against. In the same Spelling and Autocorrect menu, you can choose which language dictionary to use. If you are writing in a language other than English, make sure you have selected the right one.
What to do if spell check is not working
If you have turned on spell check but still do not see any red underlines, the most common cause is that the program is set to check in the wrong language. Open your document and check the language setting. In Word, this is under Review > Language. In Google Docs, it is under Tools > Language. Select the language you are actually writing in.
Another reason spell check may not appear to work is that you are using a browser or app that does not support it. Gmail spell check, for example, does not work in all browsers. Try using a different browser or updating the one you have. If you are on a phone or tablet, spell check may be limited or unavailable depending on the app.
If you have checked the language and you are using a supported browser or program, try closing and reopening your document. Sometimes the spell check feature needs a refresh to start working again. If it still does not work after that, the program may have a technical issue — try restarting your computer or reinstalling the software.
Customizing spell check to fit your writing
Most programs let you add words to a personal dictionary so they will not be flagged as mistakes in the future. If you use technical terms, proper nouns, or specialized vocabulary that spell check does not recognize, right-click the word and select Add to Dictionary (in Word) or Add to my words (in Google Docs). The program will remember this word and stop underlining it.
You can also turn off grammar checking separately from spell checking in Word. Some people find grammar suggestions helpful, while others find them distracting. Go to File > Options > Proofing and uncheck Mark grammar errors as you type if you want to see only spelling mistakes. This lets you focus on one type of error at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I see red lines under words I know are spelled correctly?
This usually means spell check is set to the wrong language. Check your language setting and change it to match the language you are writing in. Proper nouns, brand names, and technical terms may also be flagged because they are not in the program's dictionary — you can add them to your personal dictionary to stop the flagging.
Can I turn off spell check without uninstalling the program?
Yes. In Word, go to File > Options > Proofing and uncheck Check spelling as you type. In Google Docs and Gmail, spell check is always on but you can ignore the red lines. Outlook works the same way as Word. You can turn it back on anytime using the same menu.
Does spell check catch grammar mistakes too?
Word and Outlook can check grammar if you turn it on, but Google Docs and Gmail focus mainly on spelling. Word's grammar check catches some common errors like subject-verb disagreement, but it is not perfect and may flag correct sentences. You can turn grammar checking on or off separately from spell checking.
Will spell check work on my phone or tablet?
Most phones and tablets have built-in spell check for email and text, but it works differently than on a computer. Gmail on mobile has limited spell check support. Word and Google Docs apps on phones do offer spell checking, but the features may be simpler than the desktop versions. Check your device's settings or the app's help section for details.
What language options does spell check support?
Word, Google Docs, and Outlook support dozens of languages including Spanish, French, German, Chinese, and many others. The exact list depends on your program version. Go to the language settings menu in your program to see which languages are available and choose the one you need.