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To turn on automatic spell-check underlines in Word for Windows, go to File > Options > Proofing and select Check spelling as you type. On a Mac, use Word > Preferences > Spelling & Grammar and select the same option. Word for the web has no single spell-check on/off switch; check the proofing language for the affected text and make sure Don’t check spelling or grammar is not selected.
Turn on spell check in Word for Windows
- Open File > Options > Proofing.
- Under the spelling-check options, select Check spelling as you type.
- Select OK to apply the change, if that button appears in your version.
Word marks detected spelling errors with red squiggly underlines. If this option is already selected but the current document has no underlines, check its document-specific exceptions: in the Proofing options, inspect Exceptions for and make sure spelling errors are not hidden for the open document. Those exceptions can differ from the settings used for new documents. Microsoft Support explains Word’s spelling and grammar options.
Turn on spell check in Word for Mac
- Open the Word menu and choose Preferences > Spelling & Grammar.
- Under Spelling, select Check spelling as you type.
To check the whole document manually, choose Review > Spelling & Grammar. The cited Microsoft guidance covers Microsoft 365 and Word 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2024; menu wording can vary by release. See Microsoft’s Word spelling and grammar instructions.
Check spelling in Word for the web
Word for the web does not have a single master setting to turn spell check on or off. Microsoft says its Editor can show inline suggestions while the Editor panel is closed. To check the proofing setting for text that is not being flagged:
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- Select the affected passage. To check the whole document, press Ctrl+A.
- Choose Review > Editor > Set Proofing Language.
- Make sure Don’t check spelling or grammar is not selected, then choose the language used in the selected text.
Microsoft Support’s Word for the web guidance describes this proofing-language route rather than a global on/off switch.
Why Word is not underlining misspelled words
If automatic checking is enabled but an obvious misspelling remains unmarked, work through these checks in order. A setting can affect only one document or selection, so test the exact text that is missing marks.
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Check whether spelling errors are hidden in the document
In Windows Word, return to File > Options > Proofing and inspect the Exceptions for controls for the current document. A document can suppress spelling marks even when the main automatic-check option is enabled. If the problem occurs only in one file, this is a useful distinction to check before changing general preferences. Microsoft Support documents these exceptions.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsVerify the proofing language for the affected text
Select the passage, then open Review > Language > Set Proofing Language. Choose the language actually used in that passage. Proofing is language-specific: if Word assigns the wrong language, misspellings can go unnoticed or valid words can be marked incorrectly. A language also needs its proofing tools to be available. In supported desktop versions, open Review > Language > Language preferences; enable an available language or add it and choose Get proofing tools when offered. Microsoft’s language-proofing guidance covers language selection and tool availability.
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Clear the spelling opt-out on the selection
In Set Proofing Language, clear Do not check spelling or grammar in desktop Word. In Word for the web, the wording is Don’t check spelling or grammar. The opt-out can apply to selected text or a whole document, which explains why one paragraph may behave differently from the rest.
Set language detection deliberately in multilingual documents
Detect Language Automatically can help when a document contains multiple languages, but it only detects languages enabled in Office. Short passages and words shared by languages may be identified incorrectly. If the language shown for a passage is wrong, select that passage and set its language directly instead of relying on detection. Microsoft describes the feature and its language requirements.
Check whether Word learned to accept a word
If only one word is not flagged, it may have been added to a custom dictionary or previously ignored. Check the custom dictionary and remove an accidental entry; if you ignored a spelling issue, use the relevant reset or review option for that document. Do this after checking the main setting and language, since dictionary changes will not correct a broader proofing configuration problem. Microsoft Support explains custom dictionary entries.
Automatic underlines versus a manual spelling review
Automatic checking marks issues as you work when the setting is enabled. A manual review scans the document separately: in desktop Word, choose Review > Spelling & Grammar. Microsoft also documents F7 as a manual spell-check shortcut in some Office applications, but shortcut availability varies by application and version. If the manual review and automatic underlines disagree, confirm the proofing language and whether a word was accepted or ignored.
Where the setting lives by Word version
| Word version | Automatic-check control | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Windows desktop | File > Options > Proofing > Check spelling as you type | Document-specific exceptions can hide spelling errors. |
| Mac desktop | Word > Preferences > Spelling & Grammar > Check spelling as you type | A manual review is available through Review > Spelling & Grammar. |
| Word for the web | No single global on/off checkbox; use Review > Editor > Set Proofing Language. | Check the selected text or document for the Don’t check spelling or grammar opt-out. |
These paths reflect Microsoft’s cited support instructions. Microsoft may change interface labels or locations in later releases.
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