How to Use Spanish Proofing with an English Interface in Microsoft Word
Question details
The user wants to configure Microsoft Office so that the application interface remains in English while the proofing and spell-checking tools operate in Spanish.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Authoring or editing documents in Spanish while preferring an English application user interface.
- Observed behavior
- The user needs to set up dual language configurations and understand why grammar and Editor suggestions still appear in Spanish when checking Spanish text.
Ensure you have the Spanish language accessory pack installed in your Microsoft Office application; otherwise, the Spanish proofing tools will not be available in your settings.
Configure Display and Proofing Languages Separately in Word Options
Use the built-in language settings in Microsoft Word to decouple your user interface language from your document authoring and proofing language.
Microsoft Word allows you to set independent preferences for menus and spell checkers. However, be aware that Microsoft Editor and grammar suggestions will natively display in the language currently being checked.
Launch Microsoft Word and navigate to File > Options > Language.
Under the 'Office display language' section, select 'English' or 'Match Microsoft Windows' (if your Windows OS is set to English), then click 'Set as Preferred'.
Under 'Office authoring languages and proofing', look for Spanish. If it is not listed, click 'Add a Language' to install the Spanish dictionary and proofing tools.
To check specific parts of your document in Spanish, highlight the text, go to the Review tab on the ribbon, click Language > Set Proofing Language, and select Spanish.
How to Set English UI and Spanish Proofing in WPS Office
WPS Office makes it simple to maintain an English workspace while proofreading documents in Spanish. Follow these steps to easily configure your language preferences in WPS Writer.
- 1. Set Your UI Language: Open WPS Writer, click the Global Settings (gear icon) in the top right corner, select 'Language', and choose English.
- 2. Access the Spell Check Tool: Open your document, navigate to the Review tab on the top ribbon, and click the 'Spell Check' dropdown.
- 3. Change the Proofing Language: Select 'Set Language' from the menu and choose Spanish from the list of available dictionaries to check your document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my grammar suggestions showing in Spanish when my interface is English?
Microsoft Office natively displays Editor and grammar suggestions in the language being checked. When proofing Spanish text, the stylistic and grammatical tips will appear in Spanish regardless of your display language settings.
Do I need to download a language pack to check spelling in Spanish?
Yes, if Spanish is not already installed under your Office authoring and proofing languages, you will need to click 'Add a Language' in the options menu to download the Spanish accessory pack from Microsoft.
Can I set different proofing languages for different paragraphs in the same document?
Absolutely. You can highlight specific paragraphs or words, navigate to the Review tab, select Language, and apply a different proofing language just to the selected text.
How do I make Spanish the default proofing language for all new documents?
Go to File > Options > Language. Under 'Office authoring languages and proofing', select Spanish and click 'Set as Preferred'. This will make Spanish the default checking language for future documents.
