Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Word Changing to German When Typing Quotation Marks in Tables

Khadija Khan Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to prevent Microsoft Word from automatically switching the proofing language to German and improperly formatting quotation marks inside tables.

How to Stop Word Changing to German When Typing Quotation Marks in Tables

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Typing text containing quotation marks within tables in a Word document.
Observed behavior: Word unexpectedly changes the proofing language to German and replaces standard English quotation marks with German-style quotation marks.

Before you start

Ensure you have saved your current document and closed all other active Word windows, as you may need to adjust global language options or reset the default document template.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Automatic Language Detection and Reapply English

Use this solution to stop Word from guessing the language you are typing, which is the most common cause of sudden proofing language changes.

Microsoft Word includes a feature that attempts to detect the language you are typing based on your keystrokes. Disabling this feature and manually enforcing English for your text prevents unwanted language swapping.

Select all document text

Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to highlight all the text in your current document, including the tables.

Open language settings

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

Disable automatic detection

In the dialog box, uncheck the box next to 'Detect language automatically'.

Apply English

Select 'English (United States)' or your preferred English variant from the list, click 'Set As Default' if prompted, and click OK.

Update Normal Style: If the issue persists in new tables, right-click the 'Normal' style in the Home tab, select Modify > Format > Language, and ensure English is selected there as well.

Solution 2

Reset the Normal.dotm Template

Use this method if the language issue is specifically isolated to tables and persists across all new documents.

Solution 3

Remove Unnecessary Authoring Languages

Remove additional installed languages from Office settings to prevent the system from unintentionally switching keyboard layouts or proofing profiles.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Writing Experience

If Microsoft Word continues to struggle with erratic language switching and quotation mark formatting in tables, consider trying WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, free, and lightweight alternative that offers stable editing without unexpected formatting changes.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office suite.
2. Install and Open: Follow the simple installation prompt and launch WPS Writer.
3. Open Your Document: Drag and drop your existing Word document into WPS Writer to continue editing with stable language settings.

Free and lightweight Office alternativeFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsStable proofing language controls that won't switch unexpectedlyFamiliar user interface for seamless migration

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my quotation marks look like German quotes in Word?

When Word detects or is forced into the German proofing language, it automatically formats quotation marks using the standard German typographic style (low-9 opening, high-6 closing). Changing the proofing language back to English and re-typing the quotation marks will fix their appearance.

Will deleting Normal.dotm erase my saved documents?

No. Deleting or renaming the Normal.dotm file will not delete any of your saved Word documents. It only resets your default styles, macros, and formatting preferences back to Word's original factory settings.

Can table styles affect my language settings?

Yes. If the default Table Grid style or your overarching Normal style has German set as the underlying language, Word will revert to it every time you type inside a table. Modifying the specific style's language to English resolves this issue permanently.

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