Check Spelling and Grammar

Using the Spelling and Grammar Checker, you can search for and correct all spelling and grammar mistakes in your document. On-screen, Word places a red squiggly underline beneath spelling errors and a green squiggly underline beneath grammar errors.

Word does not identify a misspelling when a word is correctly spelled but it is misused; for example, if you type “their” when it should be “there,” Word does not flag it as a misspelling.

1. Click Tools.

2. Click Spelling and Grammar.

   

   Word selects the first spelling or grammar mistake and displays the Spelling and Grammar window.

   Note 

   If your document contains no errors, this window does not appear.

   This area displays the spelling or grammar mistake.

   This area displays suggestions to correct the error.

   

3. Click the suggestion you want to use.

4. Click Change.

   You can click Ignore Once, Ignore All, or Ignore Rule, which appears for grammar mistakes, to leave the selected word or phrase unchanged.

   Word selects the next spelling or grammar mistake.

5. Repeat steps 3 to 4 for each spelling or grammar mistake.

   

   Word displays this dialog box when it finishes checking for spelling and grammar mistakes.

6. Click OK.

   

Can I correct spelling and grammar mistakes as I work instead of checking them all at once?

Yes. Each time you see a red or green squiggly underline, right-click the word or phrase. Word displays a menu of suggestions to correct the error.

When should I use the Add to Dictionary button?

Word identifies misspellings by comparing words in your document to its own dictionary; when a word you type does not appear in Word’s dictionary, Word flags the word as misspelled. If the word is a term you use regularly, click Add to Dictionary so that Word stops flagging the word as a misspelling.