Grammarly works inside Word on Windows, Mac, and the web version
To use Grammarly in Microsoft Word, you install the Grammarly add-in once, then it runs automatically in the background while you write. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Word on your computer or in a web browser, but the process takes about five minutes either way. Once installed, Grammarly checks your writing for spelling, grammar, clarity, and tone without you having to do anything else.
You will need a Grammarly account before you start — you can create one free at grammarly.com. The free version catches basic errors. The paid version (Grammarly Premium) also checks for tone, clarity, and advanced grammar issues, but you can test the full features free for seven days.
Key Takeaways
- The Grammarly add-in for Word installs from the Microsoft Store on Windows, the Mac App Store on Mac, or directly from Office on the web version.
- After installation, Grammarly runs automatically and shows suggestions as red, yellow, or blue underlines in your document.
- You sign in with your Grammarly account the first time you use it, and Grammarly stays signed in for future sessions.
- If Grammarly does not appear after installation, restart Word completely and check that the add-in is enabled in Word's settings.
Installing Grammarly on Windows
Open Microsoft Word and go to the Insert tab at the top of the screen. On the far right, click Get Add-ins (it may say Get Add-ins or show an icon that looks like a plus sign in a square). A sidebar will open on the right side of your screen.
In the search box at the top of that sidebar, type "Grammarly" and press Enter. The official Grammarly add-in will appear at the top of the results — it shows the Grammarly logo (a red "G"). Click Add next to it. Word will ask you to confirm; click Continue. A browser window may open asking you to sign in to your Grammarly account. Enter your email and password, then click Allow when Word asks permission to use Grammarly.
Close the browser window and return to Word. Grammarly is now installed. You may see a welcome message or a sidebar on the right side of Word — this is normal. Close it by clicking the X, and Grammarly will continue working in the background. Restart Word to make sure everything loads correctly.
Installing Grammarly on Mac
Open Microsoft Word on your Mac. Click the Insert menu at the top, then select Get Add-ins. A window will open showing available add-ins. In the search box, type "Grammarly" and press Enter.
Click the official Grammarly add-in (the one with the red "G" logo), then click Get. Word will ask you to sign in to your Microsoft account if you are not already signed in — do that first if needed. After you sign in, click Add to confirm the installation. A browser window will open; sign in with your Grammarly account email and password, then click Allow when Word asks for permission.
Return to Word and close any welcome messages. Restart Word completely to may support Grammarly loads properly. After the restart, Grammarly will check your writing automatically.
Installing Grammarly on Word Online
Open Word Online in your web browser (go to office.com and sign in, then click Word). Open a document or create a new one. Click the Insert tab at the top of the ribbon, then click Get Add-ins (it may appear as an icon).
In the search box, type "Grammarly" and press Enter. Click the official Grammarly add-in, then click Add. A window will open asking you to sign in to your Grammarly account. Enter your email and password. Word will ask for permission to use Grammarly — click Allow.
The Grammarly sidebar will appear on the right side of your document. You can close it by clicking the X, and Grammarly will continue checking your writing in the background. Refresh the page if Grammarly does not appear when ready.
What Grammarly's underlines and suggestions mean
Once Grammarly is running, it marks errors with colored underlines as you type. Red underlines show spelling and grammar mistakes — these are almost always errors you should fix. Yellow underlines point out clarity issues, awkward phrasing, or tone problems — these are suggestions, not hard rules. Blue underlines appear when Grammarly detects a tone issue or offers a style suggestion.
Click any underlined word or phrase to see Grammarly's suggestion. A small popup will show the error and one or more fixes. Click the fix you want, or click the X to ignore it. If you see the same error repeatedly and want Grammarly to stop flagging it, click the three dots in the popup and select Ignore.
The Grammarly sidebar on the right side of Word shows a summary of all errors in your document. You can click any error in the sidebar to jump to it in your document. This is useful for reviewing your writing before you send it.
Turning Grammarly on and off
Grammarly runs automatically once it is installed. If you want to turn it off temporarily, click the Grammarly icon in Word (it looks like a red "G" and usually appears in the top right of the screen or in the ribbon). A menu will appear with an On/Off toggle. Click it to turn Grammarly off.
To turn it back on, click the Grammarly icon again and toggle it back to On. You can also disable Grammarly entirely by going to Insert > Get Add-ins > My Add-ins, finding Grammarly in the list, clicking the three dots next to it, and selecting Remove. This uninstalls it completely.
Troubleshooting: Grammarly is not showing up
If you installed Grammarly but do not see it working in Word, restart Word completely — close it entirely and open it again. This fixes most installation issues. If Grammarly still does not appear, check that it is enabled. Go to Insert > Get Add-ins > My Add-ins. Look for Grammarly in the list. If it shows a Disable button, it is already enabled. If it shows an Enable button, click it.
On Mac, if Grammarly does not appear, try going to Insert > Get Add-ins and searching for Grammarly again, then clicking Add a second time. Sometimes the first installation does not complete. On Word Online, try refreshing the page in your browser. If Grammarly still does not work, sign out of your Grammarly account and sign back in.
If you see an error message, make sure you are using a recent version of Word. Word 2016 and older versions do not support add-ins. If you are using an older version, you can still use Grammarly by opening Word Online instead, which works in any web browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay for Grammarly to use it in Word?
No. The free version of Grammarly works in Word and catches spelling and grammar errors. Grammarly Premium costs money and adds checks for tone, clarity, and advanced grammar, but you can test all Premium features free for seven days after you create your account.
Will Grammarly slow down Word?
Grammarly runs in the background and uses very little of your computer's resources. Most people do not notice any slowdown. If Word feels slower after you install Grammarly, restart your computer. If it is still slow, you can turn Grammarly off temporarily by clicking its icon and toggling it off.
Can I use Grammarly in Word on my phone or tablet?
Grammarly does not work as an add-in in the Word mobile app on phones or tablets. However, you can use Grammarly's standalone app on your phone or tablet, or you can open Word Online in your phone's web browser and use Grammarly there.
What if Grammarly marks something as wrong but I know it is correct?
Click the underlined word, then click the three dots in the popup that appears. Select Ignore to tell Grammarly not to flag that word again. If you want Grammarly to learn your style, you can also add words to your personal dictionary by clicking Add to dictionary.
Does Grammarly send my writing to the cloud?
By default, Grammarly stores your writing on its servers so it can check it and improve its suggestions. If you are concerned about privacy, you can turn off cloud storage in Grammarly's settings. Go to your Grammarly account online, click Settings, and look for privacy options. The free version still works without cloud storage, but some features may be limited.