Office for Mac Issues

How to Fix Word for Mac Spell Check Stuck in Italian

Phi Hung Vo Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to change the spell checking language in Word for Mac from Italian back to English (or their preferred language).

How to Fix Word for Mac Spell Check Stuck in Italian

Product: Word for Mac
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Writing or editing a document where the spell checker highlights correct English words as errors because it is evaluating them against an Italian dictionary.
Observed behavior: Word for Mac continues checking spelling in Italian even after English (UK) is selected globally, due to proofing language being applied at the character or text level.

Before you start

Verify your macOS keyboard and system language settings to ensure Italian is not set as your primary input source, which could override Word's preferences.

Solution 1Recommended

Change Proofing Language for Selected Text

Use this method to fix existing text in your document that is already stuck with Italian proofing language.

In Word for Mac, proofing language acts similarly to font formatting. It is applied at the character or text level. This means that changing the global document language will not automatically update text that has already been typed or pasted with Italian formatting applied.

Select the Affected Text

Click and drag to select the specific text, or press Cmd + A on your keyboard to select the entire document.

Open the Review Tab

Navigate to the top ribbon menu and click on the 'Review' tab.

Set Proofing Language

Click on 'Language', select 'Set Proofing Language' from the drop-down menu, choose 'English (UK)' or your preferred language, and click 'OK'.

Change Proofing Language for Selected Text

Solution 2

Check Word Templates and macOS Settings

Apply this solution if new documents continue to default to Italian spell checking despite changing the language in your current file.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Seamless Mac Experience

If you frequently encounter frustrating formatting or proofing language issues in Microsoft Word for Mac, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and easy-to-use alternative with reliable spell check features and a familiar interface.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac version of WPS Office.
2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and seamlessly open your existing .docx files.
3. Manage Spell Check: Navigate to the Review tab to easily manage and set your preferred proofing language without complex formatting conflicts.

Free, lightweight, and fast Office alternative for MacExcellent format compatibility with Microsoft Word (.docx)Intuitive spell check and proofing tools that are easy to configureFamiliar user interface with zero learning curve for quick migration

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word keep changing my spell check language automatically?

Word for Mac tries to detect the language automatically based on your keyboard input settings or the source of pasted text. If you paste text from an Italian source, it will retain the Italian proofing language until manually changed.

Can I apply the language change to the entire document at once?

Yes. Before setting the proofing language via the Review tab, simply press Command + A on your Mac keyboard to select all the text in the document. This ensures the change is applied everywhere.

Why can't I find 'File > Options' in Word for Mac?

The 'File > Options' menu path is exclusive to the Windows version of Microsoft Word. For Mac users, global application settings are located by clicking 'Word' in the top Apple menu bar and selecting 'Preferences'.

Office App Problems