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Office for Mac Issues

How to Enable Grammar Checking and Writing-Style Options in Word for Mac

Anum MushtaqAnum Mushtaq Oct 19, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to configure grammar checking and writing-style options in Word for Mac, but cannot find specific formal writing styles or access grayed-out controls.

How to Enable Grammar Checking and Writing-Style Options in Word for Mac
Product
Microsoft Word
Device & OS
Mac
Scenario
Customizing grammar rules and writing style preferences for document proofing.
Observed behavior
Certain grammar controls in the Editor pane are unavailable or grayed out, and the 'Formal' writing-style option found in Windows is missing.
Before you start

Ensure you have the latest updates installed for Microsoft Word for Mac, as available grammar rules and Editor capabilities can vary significantly between different software versions.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust Spelling & Grammar Preferences in Word for Mac

Switch your writing style setting to 'Grammar & Refinements' to access and manually configure the available grammar rules on macOS.

Microsoft Word for Mac does not always include the exact same grammar settings as Word for Windows. Specifically, the 'Formal' writing style option may be absent. However, you can still access and manually customize the refinements that are natively supported on your system.

1
Open Preferences

Launch Microsoft Word on your Mac. Click on 'Word' in the top Apple menu bar, then select 'Preferences' from the drop-down menu.

2
Navigate to Spelling & Grammar

In the Word Preferences window, locate and click on 'Spelling & Grammar'.

3
Select Writing Style

Under the Grammar section, find the 'Writing Style' dropdown menu and select 'Grammar & Refinements'.

4
Customize Grammar Rules

Click the 'Settings' button next to the Writing Style dropdown. A dialog box will appear allowing you to check or uncheck specific grammar and writing-style rules you wish to enforce.

Adjust Spelling & Grammar Preferences in Word for Mac
Mac vs. Windows Capabilities: Word for Mac provides only the controls available in this specific settings dialog. Options that appear grayed out in the Editor pane are generally not supported or available in the Mac version.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are the grammar options grayed out in my Word Editor pane on Mac?

Grammar controls in the Editor pane may be grayed out if your active document is restricted, if the proofing language is unsupported, or because specific writing style options (like 'Formal') available on Windows are not natively supported in your version of Word for Mac.

How do I change the default proofing language in Word for Mac?

Go to Tools > Language in the top menu bar, select your preferred language from the list, and click the 'Default' button to apply this language to all new documents.

Does Word for Mac have the exact same features as Word for Windows?

No, Microsoft Word for Mac has a different feature set compared to the Windows version. Certain advanced features, specific Editor refinements, and specific grammar rules may be limited, missing, or organized differently on macOS.