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Fix Microsoft Word Crashing When Using the Editor Grammar Feature
Question details
The user needs to stop Microsoft Word from crashing when attempting to check grammar using the new Editor feature.
- Product
- Microsoft Word (Microsoft 365)
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Activating the Editor > Grammar feature to check specific text within a document after a recent Microsoft 365 update.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Word unexpectedly crashes or closes completely when the new Editor Grammar tool processes specific text, an issue not present in older versions.
Ensure you save your current document manually and close any unnecessary background applications before attempting to roll back Office updates or modify system settings.
Roll Back to a Previous Office Version
Reverting your Office 365 installation to the last known working version can bypass the bug introduced in the latest update.
Since this crash is directly tied to a specific build (such as Version 2208) of Microsoft 365, rolling back to an earlier build temporarily resolves the issue while Microsoft's development team investigates the root cause.
Open Microsoft Word, navigate to File > Account, click on 'Update Options' under Product Information, and select 'Disable Updates' to prevent the buggy version from reinstalling.
Type 'cmd' into the Windows Start menu search bar, right-click on 'Command Prompt', and select 'Run as administrator'.
Use the Office Deployment Tool commands in the command prompt to revert your Office installation to the previous build number where the Editor feature worked correctly.
Use a Classic Spell Check Dialog Macro
Implement a VBA macro to bypass the modern Editor and force Word to use the classic Spelling & Grammar dialog, which does not crash.
Check for Silent Office Updates
Microsoft occasionally pushes silent fixes to the Monthly and Semi-Annual Channels, which may resolve the crashing behavior immediately.
Experience Stable and Free Document Editing with WPS Office
If Microsoft Word continues to interrupt your workflow with unexpected crashes during grammar checks, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, stable, and completely free word processing environment with reliable built-in proofing tools.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your operating system.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the setup file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the software in under a minute.
- 3. Open Your Word Document: Launch WPS Writer, open your existing .docx files, and utilize the built-in spell check tools with complete stability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word crash when I click on Editor > Grammar?
This is a known bug introduced in specific updates of Microsoft 365 (such as Version 2208) where interacting with specific text using the modern Editor Grammar feature causes the application to terminate unexpectedly.
How do I report this crashing bug to Microsoft?
You can report the issue directly to the Word development team by opening Microsoft Word and navigating to File > Feedback or Help > Feedback. Provide specific details about the text that triggers the crash so they can investigate.
Will using the classic spell check dialog also cause Word to crash?
No. Older versions of Word and the classic Spelling & Grammar dialog bypass the new modern Editor framework and do not trigger this crash. You can safely use macro workarounds to access the classic dialog.
