Possible correct spellings of a selected word display in this list box at the proofing task pane.

When you inherit a Microsoft Word document, the original author’s settings can affect the document even when you open it on your own computer. These lingering and potentially unwanted settings may prevent you from receiving a complete spelling and grammar check from Word’s Editor. Here are four quick tips for using the spelling and grammar check in Word effectively—even if your document was originally created by someone else.

Índice Show

Tip 1: Review Your Language Settings
Tip 2: Review Your Proofing Settings
Tip 3: Run a Fresh Spelling and Grammar Check
How do you get a proofing pane in Word?
When selecting text in a Word document you can press this key to turn on the extend mode?
Which of the following tabs contains the navigation pane check box?
How do potential spelling and grammar errors display in Word 2019?

Tip 1: Review Your Language Settings

Tip 2: Review Your Proofing Settings

Tip 3: Run a Fresh Spelling and Grammar Check

Tip 4: Search for Hidden Languages in Specific Sections

Please note that the images below are from Word for Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365). However, the steps are the same in Word 2019 and Word 2016 and similar for Word 2013 and Word 2010.

Tip 1: Review Your Language Settings

The following seven steps show how to review and, if necessary, change your language settings in Word. The language settings determine the dictionary Word uses to run the spelling and grammar check.

1. Press Ctrl+A to select the entire document.

2. Select the Review tab.

3. Select Language in the Language group.

4. Select Set Proofing Language in the drop-down menu.

5. Ensure that English (or another preferred language) is selected in the Language dialog box. Use the menu to select a new language, if necessary.

6. Ensure that Do not check spelling or grammar is not checked. To be on the safe side, also consider unchecking Detect language automatically.

7. Select the OK button to save your changes and close the Language dialog box.

Tip 2: Review Your Proofing Settings

The following six steps show how to review and, if necessary, change your proofing settings in Word. The proofing settings determine how Word applies the spelling and grammar check to your document.

1. Select the File tab.

2. Select Options in the Backstage view.

3. Select Proofing in the Word Options dialog box.

4. Review your proofing settings. Here are a few specific settings to review:

Ensure that Ignore words in UPPERCASE is not checked because titles, headers, footers, and table data often appear in uppercase but should still be spell-checked.
Ensure that Hide spelling errors in this document only and Hide grammar errors in this document only are also unchecked.

5. Select the Settings button if you want to customize additional options for grammar, clarity and conciseness, formal language, inclusive language, punctuation conventions, and vocabulary choices.

6. Select the OK button to save your changes and close the Word Options dialog box.

Tip 3: Run a Fresh Spelling and Grammar Check

The following eight steps show how to delete the results of previous spelling and grammar checks and then run a fresh check.

1. Select the File tab.

2. Select Options in the Backstage view.

3. Select Proofing in the Word Options dialog box.

4. Select the Recheck Document button.

5. Select the Yes button in the dialog box asking if you want to continue.

6. Select the OK button in the Word Options dialog box.

7. Select the Review tab.

8. Select Check Document in the Proofing group to run a new spelling and grammar check. (Note that Word 2016 and older versions of Word will say Spelling & Grammar instead of Check Document.)

If Word’s spelling and grammar check isn’t performing correctly within a specific section, such as a header, footer, or table, you can use the Reveal Formatting function to uncover hidden language settings that may be affecting that section.

1. Select the entire section you want to check.

2. Press Shift+F1 to open the Reveal Formatting task pane. (Note that some computers will require you to press Shift + Fn + F1 instead.)

3. Review the language(s) listed under the Language heading.

4. Select LANGUAGE if you need to open the Language dialog box in order to change a language. (Tip 1, above, shows how to change a language in the Language dialog box.)

To review or change the language setting for comments made with Track Changes, visit “How to Change the Proofing Language for Microsoft Word Comments.”

How do you get a proofing pane in Word?

In a Word document, press Alt+F, T. The Word Options window opens. To open the Proofing pane, press P, and then press the Tab key. The Proofing pane opens with the focus on the AutoCorrect Options button.

When selecting text in a Word document you can press this key to turn on the extend mode?

If you press on the F8 key, you enable what Word refers to as extend mode. This is the keyboard method of anchoring the cursor in preparation for making a selection.

To show the Navigation pane in Word, click the “View” tab in the Ribbon. For all document views other than “Read Mode,” then check the “Navigation Pane” checkbox in the “Show” button group.

How do potential spelling and grammar errors display in Word 2019?

On the Review tab, click Spelling & Grammar. If Word finds a potential error, the Spelling & Grammar dialog box will open, spelling errors will be shown as red text, and grammatical errors will be shown as green text.