Office Settings & Configuration

How to Stop Word from Flagging "Most High" as a Grammar Error

Emma Brown Sep 27, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to prevent Microsoft Word from marking the correctly capitalized phrase "Most High" with a persistent grammar warning.

How to Stop Word from Flagging "Most High" as a Grammar Error

Product: Microsoft Word 2016
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Writing documents where a specific phrase is frequently used and contextually correct, but the word processor continually flags it as grammatically incorrect.
Observed behavior: Word flags the phrase as a grammar error, and adding it to the custom spelling dictionary fails to resolve the grammar warning.

Before you start

Before modifying your grammar rules, identify whether this phrase appears frequently or just a few times in your document to determine the most efficient solution.

Solution 1Recommended

Exclude the Selected Phrase from Grammar Checking

This is the most effective way to stop Word from flagging specific instances without altering your global grammar checking rules.

By telling Word to ignore a specific text block, you bypass both spelling and grammar checks for just those words without disabling helpful proofing for the rest of your document.

Select the text

Highlight the phrase "Most High" in your Word document.

Open language settings

Look at the status bar at the bottom of the Word window and click on the current language (e.g., English).

Disable checking

In the Language dialog box that appears, check the box labeled 'Do not check spelling or grammar'.

Apply changes

Click 'OK' to apply the setting. The grammar warning under the selected phrase will immediately disappear.

Exclude the Selected Phrase from Grammar Checking

Why the Custom Dictionary Fails: Adding a phrase to the custom dictionary only prevents spelling errors (indicated by red squiggly lines). It does not affect grammar warnings (indicated by blue or green squiggly lines).

Solution 2

Create a Formatted AutoCorrect Entry

If you use the phrase frequently, you can automate inserting it with the "Do not check" property already applied.

Solution 3

Adjust Global Grammar Settings in Word

You can disable specific grammar rules if they are overly aggressive and causing false positives throughout your document.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does adding a phrase to the Word dictionary not clear the grammar error?

The custom dictionary in Microsoft Word is strictly used for spelling checks. Grammar checks operate on a completely separate set of stylistic rules, meaning a correctly spelled word can still trigger a grammar warning based on context or capitalization.

Will "Do not check spelling or grammar" apply to the whole document?

No, this specific setting only applies to the text you have highlighted when selecting the option. The rest of your document will continue to be checked for spelling and grammar normally.

How do I find out which grammar rule is flagging my phrase?

If you right-click the flagged phrase or open the Editor pane in newer versions of Word, it will usually state the category of the grammar suggestion (such as "Capitalization" or "Clarity"). This helps you identify which specific rule to turn off in your Proofing settings.

Is Microsoft Word 2016 still supported?

Word 2016 is currently in its extended support phase. This means it receives critical security patches but no longer receives new features or minor bug fixes, which is why transitioning to a modern, supported alternative is recommended.

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