Office Settings & Configuration

How to Stop Microsoft Word from Checking Spelling in Quotation Marks

Aamir Naveed Akram Oct 10, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to exclude specific text contained within quotation marks from Microsoft Word's spelling and grammar checks.

How to Prevent Microsoft Word from Checking Text in Quotation Marks

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Reviewing documents that contain extensive dialogue, direct quotes, or Bible verses where archaic or non-standard words trigger false spelling errors.
Observed behavior: The spell checker flags correctly spelled foreign words, archaic terms, or specialized dialogue enclosed in quotation marks as spelling or grammatical errors, creating unnecessary distractions.

Before you start

Before applying these settings, determine if your quotes are scattered within sentences or if they occupy full separate paragraphs, as this will dictate which formatting method works best for your document.

Solution 1Recommended

Apply a 'No Proofing' Style Using Find and Replace

The most efficient way to handle inline dialogue is to create a custom character style that disables proofing and apply it automatically to all quotes.

This method combines a custom character style with Word's Advanced Find feature. By using wildcards, you can locate all text enclosed in quotation marks and apply the non-checking style at once.

Create a New Character Style

Press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S to open the Styles pane, click the 'New Style' button at the bottom, name it 'No Proofing', and set the 'Style type' to 'Character'.

Disable Proofing for the Style

Click 'Format' at the bottom left of the window, select 'Language', check the box for 'Do not check spelling or grammar', and click 'OK' twice to save the style.

Set Up Find and Replace

Press Ctrl+H to open the Find and Replace dialog. Click 'More' to expand the options, and check the box labeled 'Use wildcards'.

Enter the Wildcard Search

In the 'Find what' box, type "*" (including the quotes) to instruct Word to find any text contained within standard double quotation marks.

Apply the Custom Style

Click inside the 'Replace with' box (leave it blank), click 'Format', select 'Style', choose your 'No Proofing' style from the list, and click 'Replace All'.

Apply a 'No Proofing' Style Using Find and Replace

Handling Smart Quotes: If your document uses 'smart' (curly) quotes instead of straight quotes, typing standard quotes in the search box won't work. You must copy and paste the opening and closing curly quotes directly from your document into the 'Find what' box.

Solution 2

Modify the Built-in Quote Style for Paragraphs

If your quoted text or Bible verses occupy complete, standalone paragraphs, modifying Word's existing Quote style is the fastest approach.

Manage Document Proofing Easily

Use WPS Writer to Easily Manage Spell Check Settings

WPS Office offers intuitive style management and powerful proofing tools, allowing you to quickly disable spell checking for specific quotes or dialogues without navigating complex hidden menus.

1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing the quotes you want to exclude from spelling checks.
2. Select the Text: Highlight the specific quoted text or paragraph you want to exclude.
3. Access Language Settings: Go to the 'Review' tab on the top ribbon, click the 'Spell Check' drop-down arrow, and select 'Set Language'.
4. Disable Proofing: Check the box for 'Do not check spelling or grammar' and click 'OK'. For bulk updates, apply this setting to a custom style in the Styles pane.

Perfect compatibility with Microsoft Word document formats (.docx and .doc).Easily apply 'Do not check spelling or grammar' settings to specific paragraphs or custom styles.Free, lightweight, and features an intuitive interface familiar to Office users.Includes powerful Find and Replace capabilities for bulk text formatting and proofing adjustments.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off spell check for just a single word inside quotes?

Yes. Simply highlight the specific word, go to the Review tab, select Language, and check 'Do not check spelling or grammar'. You do not need to create a custom style for a one-time adjustment.

Why are my wildcards not finding the quoted text?

This usually happens because 'Use wildcards' is not checked in the Find and Replace dialog, or because your document uses curly (smart) quotes while you typed straight quotes in the search box. Copy and paste the exact quotation marks from your text into the search field.

Does the 'No Proofing' setting apply to grammar as well as spelling?

Yes. When you check 'Do not check spelling or grammar' in the language settings, it disables both the red squiggly lines for spelling and the blue/green lines for grammatical errors for that specific text.

Will the 'No Proofing' style remain if I send the document to someone else?

Yes, style settings and language proofing exceptions are saved directly within the document. When someone else opens the file in Microsoft Word or WPS Office, those specific quotes will still be excluded from their spell checker.

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