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How to Turn Off Spell Check for One Word Document on Mac
Question details
The user wants to disable spelling and grammar checks for a specific Word document on a Mac without altering the global application settings.
- Product
- Microsoft Word for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Editing or reviewing a document where red underlines are distracting, but global spell-check is still needed for other files.
- Observed behavior
- By default, changing the spelling and grammar preferences affects all documents globally. The user needs a localized way to ignore spelling for only the active document's text.
Ensure you have the target document open on your Mac. Remember that this adjustment functions as a text-formatting rule rather than a global application preference, so you will need to select the text first.
Use the Language Dialog to Disable Checking for Selected Text
This is the most effective method to turn off spell check for a single document without changing your global Word preferences.
In Microsoft Word for Mac, the 'Do not check spelling or grammar' option is technically a character-level formatting attribute, much like bold or italic text. By selecting all text and applying this attribute, you hide the red squiggly lines only in the current document.
Avoid changing the global Spelling & Grammar preferences, as doing so will disable error checking for every document you open.
Click anywhere inside your document and press Command + A on your keyboard to highlight all the text.
Navigate to the top menu bar and click Tools > Language. Alternatively, you can go to the Review tab on the ribbon and click Language, or click the language indicator on the bottom status bar.
In the Language dialog box, check the box that says 'Do not check spelling or grammar'.
Click OK to apply the setting. The red and blue underlines should instantly disappear from your selected text.
Easily Manage Spell Check in WPS Office for Mac
WPS Office offers a clear and intuitive way to manage spell check settings for your Word documents on Mac. You can quickly toggle spelling tools on or off to suit your editing workflow without navigating through complex preference menus.
- 1. Open your document: Launch WPS Office for Mac and open your Word document.
- 2. Navigate to the Review tab: Click on the Review tab located in the top ribbon menu.
- 3. Toggle Spell Check: Click the Spell Check icon to instantly turn the automatic spelling and grammar checking on or off for your current document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disabling spell check in one document affect my other Word files?
No. By applying the 'Do not check spelling or grammar' setting via the Language dialog, it acts as a character-level format applied only to the selected text, leaving your global preferences intact for all other files.
Why can't I just uncheck it in the main Spelling & Grammar preferences?
Changing the main preferences alters the global application settings. If you disable it there, spell and grammar check will be disabled for every document you open on your Mac, rather than just the one you are currently editing.
Can I apply this setting to a specific paragraph only?
Yes. Simply highlight the specific paragraph instead of selecting the entire document with Command+A, then select 'Do not check spelling or grammar' in the Language dialog.
Why do I still see red lines after selecting 'Do not check spelling'?
Ensure you actually selected the text before applying the setting. If you type new text afterwards using a different text style, it might not inherit the rule. You may need to select the newly added text and apply the language setting again.
