Office Settings & Configuration

Fix Word Proofing and Spell Check Not Responding in Documents

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is unable to use spell check in a French document; although spelling errors are marked, the tool does not respond when errors are selected.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to review and correct spelling errors in a French document using Word's built-in proofing tools.
Observed behavior: Spelling errors show red squiggly lines, but clicking or selecting the errors does nothing. The Proofing status bar remains completely unresponsive even after resetting.

Before you start

Verify that your Microsoft Office suite is fully updated and try restarting the Word application before attempting to modify language settings or running repair tools.

Solution 1Recommended

Manually Set the Proofing Language and Disable Auto-Detection

Manually assigning the correct document language and disabling automatic language detection often resolves unresponsive spell check behaviors.

Select All Text

Press Ctrl+A on your keyboard to highlight the entire contents of your Word document.

Open Language Settings

Navigate to the Review tab on the top ribbon, click on Language, and select Set Proofing Language from the drop-down menu.

Apply Target Language

Scroll through the list and select your specific target language, such as French.

Disable Automatic Detection

Uncheck the box labeled 'Detect language automatically' at the bottom of the dialog window. This prevents Word from incorrectly guessing the language and stalling the proofing tool, then click OK.

Tip: If you are working on a multi-lingual document, you can highlight specific paragraphs individually and apply the correct proofing language to just those sections.

Solution 2

Run an Online Repair for Microsoft Office

If adjusting the language settings does not work, the Word application itself may be corrupted and requires a repair via Windows settings.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Reliable Spell Checking and Document Editing

If Microsoft Word's proofing tools continue to freeze or crash, consider switching to WPS Office. It offers a fast, highly compatible, and free alternative with responsive multi-language spell check capabilities built right in.

1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office from the official website and install it on your computer.
2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word document to seamlessly continue your work.
3. Use Spell Check: Navigate to the Review tab and click Spell Check to accurately review and correct your document.

Built-in multi-language spell checker that responds instantlyFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx, .doc) formatsLightweight architecture prevents freezing on complex documentsFree to use for everyday document creation and editing

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are there red squiggly lines but no suggestions when I click in Word?

This typically happens if the proofing language applied to the text doesn't match the installed dictionary, or if the automatic language detection has stalled the proofing engine.

How do I install a new proofing language dictionary in Microsoft Word?

Go to File > Options > Language. Under the 'Office authoring languages and proofing' section, click 'Add a Language' to download and install the required dictionary pack.

Does the 'Detect language automatically' feature cause spell check issues?

Yes, it can sometimes incorrectly identify the language of your text, which prompts the spell checker to apply the wrong dictionary and ultimately fail to offer the right suggestions.

What should I do if the Proofing status bar disappears entirely?

Right-click on the status bar at the very bottom of the Word window and ensure that 'Spelling and Grammar Check' or 'Language' is checked so that the proofing indicators remain visible.

Office App Problems