Office Settings & Configuration

How to Add Australian English Spell Checking to Microsoft Office

Khadija Khan Sep 29, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to configure Microsoft Office to use Australian English for spell checking and manage custom dictionary entries for region-specific terminology.

How to Add Australian English Spell Checking to Microsoft Office

Product: Microsoft Office
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Writing and proofreading documents that require Australian English spelling standards, such as using "recognise" instead of "recognize".
Observed behavior: The default spell checker flags correctly spelled Australian English words as errors, requiring the user to change the proofing language and manually add terms to the dictionary.

Before you start

Ensure you have an active internet connection, as you may need to download the Australian English language accessory pack if it is not already installed on your device.

Solution 1Recommended

Set Proofing Language to Australian English in Office Desktop Apps

Change the default spell-checking language directly from the Review tab in desktop applications like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.

Applying the proofing language via a desktop application is the most reliable method for ensuring your entire document is checked according to Australian English rules. This method works consistently across Microsoft 365 desktop apps.

Open your document

Launch your Microsoft Office desktop application, such as Word, and open the document you wish to edit.

Navigate to Proofing Settings

Go to the **Review** tab located on the top ribbon menu.

Select Set Proofing Language

Click on **Language** in the ribbon, then select **Set Proofing Language** from the drop-down menu.

Choose Australian English

Scroll through the language list, highlight **English (Australia)**, and ensure the 'Do not check spelling or grammar' checkbox is unchecked.

Apply and Save

Click **Set As Default** if you want to apply this language to all future documents, then click **OK** to apply the settings.

Set Proofing Language to Australian English in Office Desktop Apps

New Outlook Limitations: The New Outlook web interface may not provide a full custom dictionary editor. It is recommended to manage your dictionary entries and language settings through a desktop app like Word.

Solution 2

Add Specific Words to the Custom Dictionary

Manually add flagged Australian English terms or slang to your custom dictionary so they are recognized in future documents.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Use WPS Office for Accurate Australian English Spell Checking

WPS Office provides a built-in, highly accurate spell checker with support for multiple English regions, including Australian English. You can easily switch your proofing language to ensure your documents are perfectly localized and error-free.

1. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your document in the WPS Writer application.
2. Access the Review Tab: Navigate to the **Review** tab on the top ribbon and click on **Spell Check**.
3. Set the Language: In the Spell Check pane or from the language option in the bottom status bar, select **Set Language**.
4. Select Australian English: Choose **English (Australia)** from the list of available languages and click **OK** to apply it to your document.

Built-in spell check for multiple languages and regional dialectsFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsFree, lightweight, and fast installationFamiliar user interface with no learning curve

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is English (Australia) missing from my list of proofing languages?

If English (Australia) is not available in the list, you may need to install the corresponding language accessory pack. You can download this pack from your Microsoft 365 account settings or Microsoft's official download center.

How do I manage my custom dictionary in the New Outlook?

The New Outlook web interface currently lacks a dedicated custom dictionary editor. To manage your added words, open a Microsoft 365 desktop application like Word, go to File > Options > Proofing, and click on Custom Dictionaries.

Will setting the proofing language to Australian English change my menu language?

No, changing the proofing language only affects the dictionary used for spelling and grammar checks. Your interface, buttons, and menus will remain in your default system display language.

How do I make Australian English the default for all future documents?

When you are in the 'Set Proofing Language' dialog box (Review > Language > Set Proofing Language), select English (Australia) and click the 'Set As Default' button. This updates your Normal template so that all new documents use this language setting automatically.

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