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Fix Word for Mac Not Spell-Checking Modern Comments
Question details
Users report that Microsoft Word for Mac spell-checks the main document body successfully but fails to automatically check spelling and grammar inside Modern Comments or tracked-change comments.
- Product
- Microsoft Word for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Reviewing documents, tracking changes, and leaving comments on a Mac device.
- Observed behavior
- The spell-check tool ignores text entered into the new Modern Comments interface, failing to underline spelling or grammar mistakes.
Ensure you have saved all changes in your current document, as you will need to completely restart Microsoft Word for Mac for the comment preference adjustments to take effect.
Disable Modern Comments to Restore Spell Check
Because the lack of spell-check in Modern Comments is an expected limitation in current versions of Word for Mac, disabling the feature will revert your workspace to Legacy Comments, which fully supports spelling and grammar checking.
Microsoft introduced Modern Comments to streamline collaboration, but the interface currently lacks integration with the built-in proofing tools. By toggling off this new view, you can immediately regain the ability to catch typos in your margin notes.
Launch Microsoft Word on your Mac. Click on the 'Word' option in the top-left Apple menu bar, then select 'Preferences' from the dropdown menu.
In the Word Preferences dialog box, click on the 'General' icon located under the Authoring and Proofing Tools section.
Look for the checkbox labeled 'Enable modern comments' and uncheck it to opt out of the new commenting interface.
Close the preferences window and completely quit Microsoft Word. When you reopen the application, your comments will appear in the legacy format, and spell-check will function normally.
Experience Flawless Document Reviewing with WPS Office
Tired of encountering design limitations like missing spell-check in Word for Mac comments? Try WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, lightweight, and free alternative that provides reliable proofreading tools and a seamless document editing experience without sacrificing functionality.
- 1. Install WPS Office for Mac: Download and install the free WPS Office suite tailored for macOS from the official website.
- 2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx files directly without any formatting loss.
- 3. Review and Spell Check: Navigate to the 'Review' tab to add your comments. WPS Office will automatically check the spelling in your comments just as it does in the main text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does spell-check work in the document body but not in my comments?
In recent updates to Word for Mac, Microsoft introduced the 'Modern Comments' interface. Currently, this specific interface does not support automatic spell and grammar checking. Microsoft has noted this as an expected behavior rather than a software bug.
Will disabling Modern Comments delete my existing comments?
No, disabling Modern Comments only changes how the comments are displayed in your user interface. All your existing comments will be safely preserved and simply shown in the classic legacy format.
Is there a way to force spell-check in Modern Comments without disabling them?
Currently, there is no built-in workaround to force automatic spell-check inside the Modern Comments view on Word for Mac. Reverting to Legacy Comments is the only native solution to restore full proofing functionality.
