Office for Mac Issues

Fix Word for Mac Spell Check and Grammar Options Not Working

WPS Content Manager Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where Word for Mac fails to flag spelling errors or disables grammar settings, despite the status bar displaying English (US).

How to Fix Word for Mac Spell Check and Grammar Options Not Working

Product: Microsoft Word for Mac
Device & OS: macOS Sonoma 14.5 on Apple M3 Air
Scenario: Reviewing and proofreading a document for spelling and grammatical errors.
Observed behavior: Word stops flagging incorrectly spelled words or disables grammar options entirely. This often happens when text contains multiple proofing languages or when the 'Do not check spelling or grammar' setting is inadvertently enabled.

Before you start

Ensure that your Mac is connected to the internet and that you have the appropriate language dictionaries installed in your system settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust Proofing Language Settings for the Entire Document

Use this method to force Word to apply a single, correct proofing language to all text and re-enable spelling and grammar checks.

When you copy and paste text from different sources, Word may quietly apply different language tags to specific paragraphs. This can cause the spell checker to skip certain words even if the overall document language appears as English on the status bar.

Select the entire document

Press Command + A on your keyboard to highlight all the text in your current document.

Open language tools

Navigate to the top menu bar, click on 'Tools', and then select 'Language' from the dropdown menu.

Choose your preferred language

Scroll through the list and select your desired proofing language, such as English (US).

Clear exceptions and automatic detection

Ensure the box for 'Do not check spelling or grammar' is unchecked. Then, uncheck 'Detect language automatically' to prevent Word from changing languages as you type.

Apply changes

Click 'OK' to apply the language settings to the entire document. The spell check should immediately begin flagging errors.

Check individual words: You can quickly check the proofing language of a specific incorrectly spelled word by clicking on it and looking at the language indicator on the bottom status bar.

Solution 2

Update Microsoft Word for Mac

If adjusting the language settings does not resolve the issue, outdated software or missing proofing tools might be the culprit.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience Seamless Spell Checking with WPS Office for Mac

If Word for Mac continues to cause proofing issues or dictionary glitches, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative with a reliable built-in spell checker designed to keep your writing flawless.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac version of WPS Office.
2. Open your Word document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx file directly without any format conversion.
3. Run Spell Check: Navigate to the Review tab and click 'Spell Check' to instantly proofread your entire document.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) and other Office formats.Reliable built-in spell checker and advanced proofing tools.Free to use with a familiar, user-friendly interface.Lightweight installation optimized for macOS, including Apple Silicon (M-series) chips.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my spell check work on some words but ignore others?

This usually happens when portions of your text are assigned a different proofing language or have the 'Do not check spelling or grammar' option enabled. Selecting all text and reapplying a single language fixes this discrepancy.

Where is the language indicator located in Word for Mac?

The language indicator is found on the status bar at the bottom of the Word window. Clicking it allows you to quickly view and change the proofing language of the currently selected text.

Does turning off 'Detect language automatically' help?

Yes. When this feature is turned on, Word may incorrectly guess the language based on your typing patterns or pasted text, which can disable the spell checker for those specific words. Turning it off ensures consistent proofing.

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