How to Fix Word Status Bar Displaying Wrong Proofing Language
Question details
The user needs to correct the proofing language displayed in the Word status bar, which continues to show the default language instead of the language applied to the text.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reviewing a document where specific text or sections have been set to a different language, but the status bar does not reflect this change.
- Observed behavior
- The Word status bar incorrectly displays the default proofing language even after a different proofing language was manually applied to the selected text.
Before proceeding, ensure that the language you intend to use for proofing is fully installed on your Windows operating system and within your Office language preferences.
Apply Proofing Language to Selected Text
Manually force the correct proofing language onto your document's text to update the status bar.
Often, the status bar displays the default document language instead of the language applied to a specific paragraph. Selecting the text and reapplying the language can refresh the status bar.
Highlight the affected text, or press Ctrl+A on your keyboard to select the entire document.
Navigate to the Review tab on the ribbon, click on Language, and then select Set Proofing Language.
Select your preferred language from the dialog box list.
Click Set As Default if you want this language applied to all future documents, then click OK to confirm.
Verify Office Authoring Language Preferences
Ensure that your preferred language is properly prioritized in Word's main settings.
Synchronize Windows Display Language
Prevent Windows regional settings from overriding your Office language configuration.
Try WPS Office for Hassle-Free Document Editing
If Microsoft Word's language settings are causing persistent issues, WPS Office offers a lightweight, highly compatible, and completely free alternative. It provides an intuitive interface for document proofing, making it easy to manage languages without complicated configuration conflicts.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free software suite.
- 2. Open your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word document to continue editing instantly.
- 3. Set Spell Check Language: Navigate to the Review tab and easily select your preferred Spell Check language with a single click.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word automatically change my proofing language?
Word has a feature called 'Detect language automatically' which can sometimes incorrectly identify the language you are typing based on your keystrokes. You can disable this by going to Review > Language > Set Proofing Language and unchecking the 'Detect language automatically' box.
How do I add a new proofing language dictionary to Microsoft Word?
To add a new proofing language, go to File > Options > Language. Under the 'Office authoring languages and proofing' section, click 'Add a Language', select your desired language from the dropdown menu, and click Add.
Does changing the proofing language change the Word interface language?
No, the proofing language only dictates the dictionary used for spelling and grammar checks. If you want to change the language of the menus and buttons, you must adjust the 'Office display language' settings located in File > Options > Language.
Why is the Language option missing from my Word status bar?
The Language indicator might be hidden. To display it, simply right-click anywhere on the blank space of the status bar at the bottom of the Word window, and check the 'Language' option in the Customize Status Bar menu.
