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How to Remove Gray Grammar Dots and Lines in Word for Mac
Question details
The user needs to remove intrusive gray and blue grammar markings under text or resolve the issue where clicking these markings fails to display correction suggestions.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Reviewing and editing a document where unwanted stylistic markup appears, but helpful spelling or grammar suggestions are missing.
- Observed behavior
- Gray dots, gray lines, and double blue lines appear under text, but no suggestions are displayed when clicking or right-clicking. This issue persists in new documents, particularly in version 16.70.
Ensure your Word for Mac application is updated, as certain suggestion display bugs are tied to specific releases like version 16.70.
Adjust Spelling & Grammar Preferences
Modify your Word preferences to change the proofing style or disable live grammar checking entirely, which removes the gray dots and restores functionality.
The gray dots and lines are often caused by the 'Grammar & Refinements' setting, which flags stylistic issues rather than strict grammatical errors. Changing this to standard 'Grammar' and ensuring suggestions are enabled can resolve the display bugs.
Click on 'Word' in the top Mac menu bar, then select 'Preferences'.
In the Preferences window, click on 'Spelling & Grammar' located under the Authoring and Proofing Tools section.
Locate the 'Grammar' section. Uncheck 'Check grammar as you type' to completely disable the lines, or change the writing style drop-down from 'Grammar & Refinements' to 'Grammar' to remove the gray dots.
Ensure the 'Always suggest corrections' box is checked so that right-clicking the marked text provides actionable fixes.
Hide Grammar Markup for the Current Document
Use the Tools menu to quickly hide all grammar markings for the specific file you are working on without altering global settings.
Update Microsoft Word for Mac
Install the latest Office updates to patch known software bugs preventing grammar suggestions from appearing in version 16.70.
Experience Bug-Free Editing with WPS Office for Mac
If persistent grammar markings and bugs in Word for Mac are slowing you down, WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative. Enjoy seamless document editing, familiar interfaces, and reliable spell-check tools without the frustration.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac version for free.
- 2. Install and Open: Install the application and open your existing .docx files directly.
- 3. Edit Seamlessly: Enjoy distraction-free editing with reliable proofing tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I seeing gray dots under my text in Word for Mac?
Gray dots typically indicate stylistic suggestions triggered by the 'Grammar & Refinements' setting. They are meant to suggest improvements for conciseness, tone, or vocabulary, rather than strictly flagging grammatical errors.
Why don't grammar suggestions appear when I right-click the blue lines?
This is a known issue, particularly reported in Word for Mac version 16.70. You can often fix it by ensuring 'Always suggest corrections' is enabled in your Spelling & Grammar preferences, switching from 'Grammar & Refinements' to 'Grammar', or by updating your Word application to a newer version.
Can I turn off grammar checking completely in Word for Mac?
Yes. You can navigate to Word > Preferences > Spelling & Grammar and uncheck the 'Check grammar as you type' option to stop all grammar markings and underlines from appearing in your documents.
