Why did Word stop spell checking?

Answered by Willian Lymon

Word may stop spell checking for a variety of reasons. One possible explanation could be that the Spelling and Grammar settings have been inadvertently changed or turned off. To check this, you can go to the Word Options or Preferences menu, depending on whether you’re using a PC or Mac.

On a PC, you can find the Options menu by clicking on the File tab, then selecting Options. In the Options window, navigate to the Proofing section. Here, ensure that the options for checking spelling and grammar as you type are properly marked. If they are not, select them and click OK to save the changes.

On a Mac, you can access the Preferences menu by clicking on the Word menu at the top left corner of the screen and selecting Preferences. In the Preferences window, go to the Spelling & Grammar section. Make sure that the options for checking spelling and grammar as you type are enabled. If they are disabled, check the boxes next to them and close the Preferences window to save the changes.

If the Spelling and Grammar settings are already enabled, there may be an issue with the language settings in your document. Word checks spelling and grammar based on the selected language, so if the language is set incorrectly, it may not detect errors. To check the language settings, select the text you want to spell check and navigate to the Review tab. In the Language section, click on the Language button and ensure that the correct language is selected. If not, choose the appropriate language and click OK.

Another possibility is that the proofing tools for the selected language are not installed or enabled. In this case, you might need to install or enable the proofing tools by going to the Language preferences or settings in your operating system or Office suite.

It’s worth noting that Word’s spell checking can also be affected by custom dictionaries or third-party add-ins. If you have any custom dictionaries or add-ins installed, try disabling them temporarily to see if they are causing the issue.

There are several reasons why Word may stop spell checking. By checking and adjusting the Spelling and Grammar settings, verifying the language settings, and ensuring that proofing tools are installed and enabled, you should be able to resolve the issue. If the problem persists, you may need to seek further assistance or consider reinstalling or updating your Microsoft Office suite.