How to Automatically Spell Check Emails in Outlook 2013

To make Outlook 2013 automatically spell check your emails, click File > Options > Mail, and under Compose messages, check Always check spelling before sending. Click OK. From then on, Outlook runs a spelling check every time you click Send and lets you fix or ignore each error before the message goes out. To see red underlines while you type, click Spelling and Autocorrect on the same page and make sure Check spelling as you type is on.

These steps also work in Outlook 2016, 2019, 2021, and Outlook for Microsoft 365 (classic). This guide also covers grammar checking, custom dictionaries, languages, and what to do when spell check doesn’t run. Note that Office 2013 is no longer supported by Microsoft, so it doesn’t receive security updates; upgrading is recommended.

Turn on automatic spell check before sending

1. Open Outlook 2013 and click the File tab.
2. Click Options.
3. In the left pane, click Mail.
4. Under Compose messages, check Always check spelling before sending.
5. Click OK.

Now, when you click Send, Outlook opens the Spelling and Grammar dialog if it finds mistakes. Choose a suggestion and click Change, or click Ignore Once, Ignore All, or Add to Dictionary. If you click Cancel, Outlook asks whether to send the message anyway.

Turn on spell check as you type

1. Go to File > Options > Mail and click Spelling and Autocorrect (or Editor Options).
2. Click Proofing.
3. Under When correcting spelling in Outlook, check Check spelling as you type.
4. Check Mark grammar errors as you type and Check grammar with spelling if you want grammar help too.
5. Click OK twice.

Misspelled words get a red wavy underline. Right-click one to see suggestions.

Run a spell check manually

In a new message, press F7, or click the Review tab and then Spelling & Grammar.

Choose options for what’s checked

In Spelling and Autocorrect > Proofing, you can:

• Ignore words in UPPERCASE or words that contain numbers.
• Ignore internet and file addresses.
• Flag repeated words.
• Click Custom Dictionaries to add, edit, or remove words, such as names and product terms.

By default, Outlook doesn’t check the original text in replies and forwards. To include it, uncheck Ignore original message text in reply or forward on the Mail page.

Set the proofing language

1. In a new message, select the text, go to Review > Language > Set Proofing Language.
2. Choose the language and click OK. To make it the default, click Set As Default.
3. Make sure Do not check spelling or grammar is unchecked.

To switch it off again, see turning off spell check in Outlook 2013.

Troubleshooting

• Spell check doesn’t run on send – confirm the box is checked on the Mail page. Plain text messages are checked too, but some add-ins can interfere; start Outlook in safe mode (Ctrl while opening Outlook) to test.
• No red underlines – check Check spelling as you type, and make sure the text isn’t set to Do not check spelling or grammar in the language settings.
• Words flagged incorrectly – the proofing language may be wrong, or the proofing tools for your language aren’t installed.
• Spell check is grayed out – you may be in the reading pane instead of an open message. Click Pop Out or open the draft.

Frequently asked questions

Does this setting check emails I’ve already sent?

No. It only checks messages when you click Send after turning it on.

Can Outlook fix spelling automatically?

AutoCorrect fixes common typos as you type. Change its list in Spelling and Autocorrect > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options.

Does the new Outlook for Windows have the same setting?

The new Outlook uses Microsoft Editor with different settings, found under Settings > Mail > Compose and reply or in the Editor menu while composing. Options vary by version.