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How to Fix Missing Spelling and Grammar Suggestions in Office for Mac
Question details
Users are experiencing an issue where Office applications underline spelling and grammatical errors, but right-clicking the text does not display any correction suggestions.
- Product
- Microsoft Office for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Attempting to correct spelling or grammar errors via the right-click context menu while editing documents.
- Observed behavior
- The text is underlined indicating an error, but the right-click menu fails to provide any word correction suggestions.
Ensure you have saved all open documents and completely closed out of any active dialogue boxes in your Office applications before adjusting settings.
Toggle Spelling and Grammar Preferences
Turning the built-in proofing options off and back on can force Word to refresh its spelling check functionality and restore the right-click context menu.
Often, the proofing tool temporarily glitches in the background. A quick reset of the preferences within Microsoft Word forces the application to re-initialize the spelling and grammar checking service.
Launch Microsoft Word, click on 'Word' in the top Apple menu bar, and select 'Preferences'.
Click on 'Spelling & Grammar'. Uncheck the options that check spelling and grammar as you type, then close the preferences dialog box.
Reopen the 'Spelling & Grammar' preferences window and check the boxes again to turn the features back on. Right-click an underlined word to see if suggestions appear.
Verify Document Language and Proofing Settings
Incorrect language settings or a hidden 'do not check' flag applied to the text can prevent suggestions from appearing.
Refresh Office Editor Components
If the issue affects multiple apps like Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint, refreshing your Office sign-in session reloads the shared Editor components.
Try WPS Office for Seamless and Error-Free Writing on Mac
Tired of dealing with missing proofing tools or glitchy spelling checks in Microsoft Office? WPS Office is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative that offers reliable built-in spell check, a familiar interface, and seamless document editing.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free version optimized for macOS.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Open the downloaded file and follow the simple on-screen prompts to install the suite on your Mac.
- 3. Open and Edit: Launch WPS Writer, open your existing documents, and enjoy reliable, instant spelling and grammar suggestions on right-click.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Word underlining spelling errors but not suggesting corrections?
This is usually caused by temporary glitches in the background Editor components, incorrect document language settings, or the 'Do not check spelling or grammar' option being inadvertently activated.
How do I change the default proofing language in Word for Mac?
Go to Tools > Language from the top menu, select your preferred language from the list, click the 'Default' button, and confirm your choice to apply it to all new documents.
Does this missing suggestions issue only affect Microsoft Word?
No, because Microsoft Office applications share the same Editor components, this issue can also affect right-click spelling suggestions in Outlook and PowerPoint.
