How to Fix Microsoft Word Marking English Words as Spelling Errors
Question details
The user needs to stop Microsoft Word from incorrectly flagging correctly spelled English words as spelling errors.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Editing a document where valid English text is underlined with red squiggly lines indicating misspellings.
- Observed behavior
- Correct English words are marked as misspelled due to a mismatch between the applied proofing language and the actual text.
Ensure that you have selected the specific text that is being incorrectly marked before modifying your language settings. Verify which variant of English (e.g., US, UK) you intend to use for your document.
Set the Correct Proofing Language for the Affected Text
The most common reason for this issue is that the text is formatted with a different proofing language. You can fix this directly in the Review tab.
Microsoft Word checks spelling based on the language assigned to the text, not necessarily your display language. If a passage of English text is accidentally formatted as French or Spanish, Word will mark almost every word as an error.
Press Ctrl + A to select the entire document, or highlight the specific paragraphs causing the issue.
Navigate to the Review tab on the top ribbon, click on Language, and select Set Proofing Language from the drop-down menu.
Scroll through the list and select 'English (United States)' or your preferred English variant.
Ensure the box for 'Do not check spelling or grammar' is unchecked, and click OK to apply the correct dictionary to your text.
Modify Language Settings in Document Styles
If the issue persists when you type new text or hit Enter, the document's default styles may be applying the wrong proofing language automatically.
Use WPS Writer to Check Spelling Without Language Conflicts
WPS Office offers seamless word processing with intuitive language and spell-check controls. You can easily open your document in WPS Writer and set the correct English proofing language to stop false spelling errors.
- 1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document exhibiting the spelling errors.
- 2. Select the text: Highlight the text that is incorrectly marked with red squiggly lines.
- 3. Access spell check tools: Go to the Review tab, click the Spell Check dropdown arrow, and choose Set Language.
- 4. Apply English dictionary: Select English from the language list and click OK to resolve the formatting issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word keep changing the proofing language back to another language?
This usually happens if the 'Detect language automatically' option is enabled in the Set Proofing Language dialog. Disabling this checkbox prevents Word from randomly switching dictionaries while you type based on assumed word patterns.
Will changing the proofing language translate my text?
No, changing the proofing language only changes the dictionary the word processor uses to check for spelling and grammar errors. It does not translate or alter your actual typed text.
How do I make English the default proofing language for all new documents?
In the Set Proofing Language dialog box, select your preferred English variant, click the 'Set As Default' button at the bottom, and confirm that you want to apply this change to the Normal template.
