How to Fix Word Readability Statistics Appearing in German
Question details
The user needs to know why Microsoft Word's readability statistics are showing up in German and how to change them back to the correct language.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Running a spelling and grammar check to view readability statistics at the end of the review process.
- Observed behavior
- The readability statistics dialog box displays results based on German metrics rather than English, typically because Word analyzed a mixed-language document and defaulted to the last language checked.
Ensure that readability statistics are enabled in your Word Proofing options, and save a backup of your document before making bulk language formatting changes.
Set the Document Proofing Language to English
Since readability statistics are based on the proofing language assigned to the text, manually setting the entire document to English prevents Word from using German metrics.
Word readability statistics depend entirely on the proofing language assigned to the text being checked. If a document contains multiple languages or has the 'Detect language automatically' feature enabled, Word may display results for the last language it analyzed. Overriding the language settings for the whole document will resolve this.
Press Ctrl+A (Windows) or Cmd+A (Mac) to select the entire content of your document.
Navigate to the Review tab on the top ribbon, click on Language, and select 'Set Proofing Language'.
Scroll through the list and select English. Ensure that the 'Detect language automatically' checkbox is unchecked, then click OK.
Click 'Spelling & Grammar' on the Review tab to run the check again. The readability statistics will now appear in English.
Test Readability Statistics in a New Document
Verify if the issue is isolated to a specific document's hidden formatting by testing the feature in a brand-new file.
Try WPS Office for Seamless Multilingual Document Editing
If Microsoft Word's automatic language detection and complex proofing settings are causing frustration, WPS Office offers a highly compatible, easy-to-use alternative. It provides straightforward spell-checking and language controls without the confusion of mixed-language readability errors.
- 1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the download button for your operating system.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions.
- 3. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your .docx file to enjoy seamless document editing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word automatically switch my proofing language to German?
Word has a feature called 'Detect language automatically' that attempts to guess the language you are typing based on your vocabulary. If you type words that overlap with German or paste text from a German source, Word may silently switch the proofing language for that section.
How do I turn on readability statistics in Word?
Go to File > Options > Proofing (or Word > Preferences > Spelling & Grammar on a Mac). Check the box for 'Show readability statistics'. Once enabled, the statistics window will automatically pop up after you finish running a complete spelling and grammar check.
What should I do if the statistics still show in German after changing the language?
If changing the text language doesn't work, verify your default Office display and authoring languages under File > Options > Language. Ensure English is set as the preferred language. Additionally, check if your Word application needs an update.
