This tutorial shows how to change the proofing language for comments in Word.
But first, why would you want to change the proofing language for comments? Because …
Comments in Word Inherit Proofing Languages
When you use Word’s Track Changes to edit someone else’s document, the comment tool automatically inherits the original author’s proofing language along with spelling and grammar-check settings. Normally this inheritance isn’t a problem. However, if the author wrote the text in another language and then translated it to English, your comments may be ignored by the spelling and grammar check (now called the Editor) until you change the comments to your desired proofing language.
Please note that the images below are from Word for Office 365, which is currently the same as Word 2019. The steps are the same for Word 2016 and Word 2013; however, the interface in these older versions may look slightly different.
How to Change the Proofing Language for Comments in Word
1. Select the Home tab in the ribbon.
2. Select the dialog box launcher in the Styles group.
3. Select the Options button in the Styles task pane.
4. Select All styles in the Select styles to show drop-down menu in the Style Pane Options dialog box.
5. Select the OK button to close the Style Pane Options dialog box.
6. Scroll to Comment Text in the Styles task pane; hold your cursor over Comment Text to reveal the options arrow.
7. Select the options arrow and then select Modify from the drop-down menu.
8. Select the Format button in the Modify Style dialog box.
9. Select Language in the drop-down menu.
10. Select English (or another preferred language) in the Mark selected text as drop-down menu in the Language dialog box.
11. Uncheck Do not check spelling or grammar to ensure that Word will include your comments in spelling and grammar checks.
12. Select the OK button to close the Language dialog box.
13. Select the OK button to close the Modify Style dialog box.
14. Save, close, and then reopen the document to activate your new comment review settings.
Recommended Reading: How to Change the Font and Font Size of Comments in Word
Peter says
March 14, 2018 at 9:03 amThank you for this post. It’s obscure enough that I would never have figured it out.
Erin Wright says
March 14, 2018 at 9:15 amI’m glad you found it helpful. Thank you for reading my blog!
Katharina says
June 30, 2018 at 1:45 pmThanks. It was driving me crazy to have German correction in an English text This is really buried so deep in Word’s option, I would have had no chance to find it without your help. Thank you for taking the time to explain it so well.
Erin Wright says
July 8, 2018 at 4:43 pmI’m glad you found the post helpful! Thank you for your feedback!
Don says
October 11, 2018 at 4:36 pmSame here. Comments were stuck in German. Finally resolved! Thanks!!!!!!
Erin Wright says
October 12, 2018 at 7:43 amI’m glad the tutorial helped, Don. Thank you for reading my blog!
Emily says
October 19, 2018 at 1:28 pmErin, thanks for this. Is there any other reason Word might stop proofing the comments? I have followed these instructions, yet Word does not underline misspelled words in the comment field.
Erin Wright says
October 19, 2018 at 5:43 pmHi, Emily. Thank you for reading my post! You may want to make sure that “Do not check spelling or grammar” is not checked in the Language dialog box (Review tab > Language). Also ensure that “Hide spelling errors in this document only” is not checked in the Word Options dialog box (File tab > Options > Proofing >Exceptions section). I hope that helps!
Maria-I Acosta says
February 25, 2019 at 1:36 pmThank you so much for this tutorial! I was going crazy changing the language of each comment I made.
Erin Wright says
February 25, 2019 at 4:32 pmI’m glad the tutorial helped you. Thank you for reading my blog!
Erin