Fix Word to PDF Export Changing Language and Adding Span Tags
Question details
Users are experiencing automatic language changes and the creation of redundant accessibility tags when exporting documents to PDF.
- Product
- Microsoft Word for Mac, Adobe Acrobat Pro
- Device & OS
- macOS Sonoma (MacBook Pro)
- Scenario
- Exporting a non-English (Dutch) Word document to PDF format using Save As, Export, or the Acrobat PDF Maker add-in.
- Observed behavior
- The exported PDF incorrectly changes the document language to English and adds unnecessary span tags to the accessibility tree.
Ensure your original Word document has the correct proofing language applied to all text sections, and verify that you have an active internet connection to access web-based workaround solutions.
Convert to PDF Using Word for the Web
Bypassing the desktop application and using Word for the Web preserves the document's original language and prevents redundant span tags.
Log in to your Microsoft 365 account online at office.com and upload your Dutch Word document to OneDrive.
Click on the uploaded document to open it directly in Word for the Web.
Navigate to 'File' > 'Save As' and select 'Download as PDF' to generate a correctly formatted PDF file.
Manually Clean Up Tags in Acrobat Pro
If you must export via Word for Mac locally, you can use Adobe Acrobat Pro's built-in accessibility tools to manually delete redundant span tags.
Try WPS Office for Bug-Free PDF Conversion
Tired of formatting bugs and language shifts in Word for Mac? WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and highly reliable alternative with seamless Microsoft Office compatibility. Its built-in PDF converter ensures your original document language and layout are perfectly preserved without adding redundant accessibility tags.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite on your Mac.
- 2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your original Dutch .docx file.
- 3. Export to PDF: Click 'Menu' > 'Export to PDF' to create a clean, correctly tagged PDF document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do extra span tags appear when I export a Word file to PDF on my Mac?
Word attempts to automatically generate tags during PDF conversion to retain accessibility structures. However, a compatibility bug between certain versions of Word for Mac and Acrobat misinterprets these structures, resulting in redundant span tags.
How do I prevent my Dutch document from turning into English when saving as PDF?
The local desktop conversion engine in Word for Mac currently has a bug that overrides language parameters. To prevent this, upload your document to Word for the Web (via office.com) and use the 'Download as PDF' feature there, which maintains your original language.
Can I use an automated script to remove PDF span tags?
Yes, Adobe Acrobat Pro supports programmatic cleanup through Action Wizards and scripts. You can consult the Adobe support community or Adobe Developer documentation to find scripts specifically designed to clear redundant span tags in bulk.
