Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Incorrect Period and Quotation Mark Suggestions in Word

Kushani Nimanthika Sep 28, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where Word Editor gives incorrect punctuation recommendations regarding the placement of periods and quotation marks.

How to Fix Incorrect Period and Quotation Mark Suggestions in Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Writing or editing dialogue and quoted text in Microsoft Word.
Observed behavior: The Word Editor underlines periods and quotation marks, improperly suggesting that periods be placed outside of the quotation marks instead of inside.

Before you start

Before modifying your language settings, select the specific text or paragraphs in your document where the Editor is providing the incorrect punctuation suggestions.

Solution 1Recommended

Change the Proofing Language for the Selected Text

Adjusting the proofing language to the correct regional English variant (such as US English) ensures the proper punctuation rules are applied.

Microsoft Word's Editor bases its punctuation and grammar rules on the active proofing language. Because UK English and US English handle quotation mark punctuation differently, an incorrect language setting will trigger false grammar warnings.

Select the affected text

Highlight the specific paragraphs or the entire document (Ctrl + A) where the quotation mark suggestions are appearing.

Open Language Settings

Navigate to the 'Review' tab on the top ribbon, click on 'Language', and select 'Set Proofing Language' from the dropdown menu.

Apply the correct language

In the dialog box, scroll to and select 'English (United States)'. Make sure the 'Detect language automatically' box is unchecked to prevent Word from changing it back, then click 'OK'.

Recheck Editor suggestions

Click on the underlined text or open the Editor pane again to verify that the incorrect period and quotation mark suggestions have been resolved.

Change the Proofing Language for the Selected Text

Language Auto-Detection: Disabling 'Detect language automatically' is highly recommended if your documents frequently contain mixed formatting or foreign words, as this prevents Word from silently switching your proofing language.

Solution 2

Set US English as the Default Proofing Language

Set your preferred English variant as the default to prevent this punctuation issue from occurring in all future documents.

Write and Proofread Flawlessly with WPS Writer

Experience accurate grammar, spelling, and punctuation checks by setting your preferred proofing language in WPS Writer, a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Word.

1. Open your document in WPS: Launch WPS Office and open your .doc or .docx file.
2. Select your text: Highlight the text you want to proofread, or press Ctrl+A to select the entire document.
3. Access the Spell Check settings: Navigate to the 'Review' tab and click on the 'Spell Check' dropdown, then choose 'Set Language'.
4. Apply your preferred language: Select 'English (United States)' from the list and click 'OK' to immediately apply accurate punctuation rules.

Seamlessly compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsAccurate multi-language spell check and proofing tools built-inLightweight architecture ensures fast performance even on older devicesFree to use with a familiar, easy-to-navigate user interface

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word suggest putting the period outside the quotation marks?

This happens because Word's proofing language might be set to a regional variant like UK English. UK English conventionally places periods outside quotation marks (unless they belong to the quote), whereas US English standardly places them inside.

Does the 'Detect language automatically' feature affect punctuation suggestions?

Yes. If this feature is enabled, Word attempts to guess the language you are typing. It may mistakenly switch your proofing language based on a few words, thereby changing the punctuation rules dynamically and causing unexpected Editor recommendations.

How do I stop Word Editor from checking my document completely?

You can disable grammar and spelling checks for specific text by selecting it, navigating to Review > Language > Set Proofing Language, and checking the box that says 'Do not check spelling or grammar'.

Will changing the default language affect my existing documents?

No. Changing the default proofing language by updating the Normal template only applies to newly created documents. Existing documents retain whatever language settings were active when they were created or last saved.

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