Microsoft Word checks spelling and grammar as you type, marking mistakes with colored underlines, and it can also review a whole document at once. In Microsoft 365, that full review happens in the Editor pane, which also suggests clarity and style improvements. This guide shows how to run a spelling and grammar check in Word for Windows, Mac, and the web, what the underlines mean, and how to fix a checker that isn’t working.
Quick Answer
Press F7 (Windows) or go to Review > Editor (called Spelling & Grammar in older versions). Word walks through each suggestion; click a suggestion to accept it, or choose Ignore Once, Ignore All, or Add to Dictionary. On a Mac, press Command + Option + L or go to Review > Editor.
What the Underlines Mean
| Underline | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red squiggly | Spelling error, or a word not in Word’s dictionary |
| Blue double underline | Grammar issue (such as subject-verb agreement or a missing word) |
| Purple or gold dotted (Microsoft 365) | Refinement suggestion for clarity, conciseness, or formality |
Older Word versions used a green wavy line for grammar. Right-click any underlined word, or click it in Microsoft 365, to see suggestions.
Check the Whole Document (Windows)
- Click at the start of your document (Word checks from the cursor onward, then wraps around).
- Press F7, or go to Review > Editor.
- In the Editor pane, click Spelling or Grammar under Corrections to step through each issue.
- For each one, click the suggested fix, or open the menu to Ignore Once, Ignore All, or Add to Dictionary.
- Review the Refinements section for optional style suggestions.
- When Word finishes, it shows a message that the check is complete. The Editor score summarizes how polished the document is.
To check only part of a document, select that text first, then press F7.
Check Spelling and Grammar on a Mac
- Open the document and go to Review > Editor (or Tools > Spelling and Grammar in older versions).
- Or press Command + Option + L.
- Choose suggestions or ignore them the same way as on Windows.
Word for the Web
In Word in a browser, go to Home > Editor (or Review > Editor). Spelling and grammar suggestions appear in the pane, and underlined words can be clicked for quick fixes.
Fix Mistakes as You Type
- Right-click (or click) an underlined word and choose the correct suggestion.
- Press Alt + F7 to jump to the next spelling or grammar error.
- Use Add to Dictionary for names and terms you use often so Word stops flagging them.
Customize What Word Checks
- Go to File > Options > Proofing (Mac: Word > Preferences > Spelling & Grammar).
- Under When correcting spelling and grammar in Word, make sure Check spelling as you type and Mark grammar errors as you type are checked.
- Next to Writing Style, click Settings to choose which grammar and refinement rules Word applies, such as passive voice, punctuation conventions, or inclusive language.
- Use Custom Dictionaries to edit words you’ve added.
- Click Recheck Document to check again words you previously ignored.
Spell Check Not Working? Fixes
- Text is marked “Do not check spelling or grammar”: Select all (Ctrl + A), go to Review > Language > Set Proofing Language, uncheck Do not check spelling or grammar, and click OK. Text pasted from websites often carries this setting.
- Wrong language: In the same dialog, choose the right language (for example, English (United States)) and click Set As Default if needed.
- Proofing is turned off: Check the options in File > Options > Proofing, and make sure Hide spelling errors in this document only is unchecked.
- Proofing tools missing for a language: Install the language pack under File > Options > Language.
- Still nothing: Repair Office in Settings > Apps: select Microsoft 365 or Office, choose Modify, and run Quick Repair.
Related: Change the spell check language in Word.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Word’s grammar checker as good as a dedicated tool?
Word’s Editor catches most spelling and common grammar errors. Dedicated tools may offer deeper style feedback, but always reread important documents yourself, since no checker catches every mistake (like “their” vs. “there” used in the wrong sense).
How do I remove a word I added to the dictionary by mistake?
Go to File > Options > Proofing > Custom Dictionaries, select the dictionary, click Edit Word List, and delete the word.
Summary
- Press F7 or go to Review > Editor.
- Accept, ignore, or add each suggestion to the dictionary.
- Red means spelling; blue double underline means grammar.
- Adjust rules in File > Options > Proofing.
- Fix a silent checker with Set Proofing Language.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.