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How to Use the Spelling and Grammar Check in Microsoft Word

By Erin Wright

This tutorial shows how to use the spelling and grammar check in Microsoft Word 2016. The steps are similar for Word 2013 and Word 2010.

If you use Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2021, or Word 2019, the spelling and grammar check is now called the Editor. Visit “How to Use the Editor in Microsoft Word” for a complete tour of the new interface.

This tutorial is available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.

Watch more than 150 other writing-related software tutorials on my YouTube channel.

Before we run the spelling and grammar check, we’ll look at how to include or exclude grammar from the check.

How to Include or Exclude Grammar

1. Select the File tab.

Word 2016 File Tab | How to Use Microsoft Word 2016’s Spelling and Grammar Check

2. Select Options in the Backstage view.

Word 2016 Backstage View Options | How to Use Microsoft Word 2016’s Spelling and Grammar Check

3. Select Proofing in the Word Options dialog box.

Word 2016 Word Options Dialog Box Proofing | How to Use Microsoft Word 2016’s Spelling and Grammar Check

4. Select or deselect Check grammar with spelling.

Word 2016 Word Options Dialog Box Grammar Setting | How to Use Microsoft Word 2016’s Spelling and Grammar Check

5. Select the OK button to save your selection and close the Word Options dialog box.

Word 2016 Word Options Dialog Box OK Button | How to Use Microsoft Word 2016’s Spelling and Grammar Check

How to Run the Spelling and Grammar Check

1. Select the Review tab.

Word 2016 Review Tab | How to Use Microsoft Word 2016’s Spelling and Grammar Check

2. Select Spelling & Grammar.

Word 2016 Spelling & Grammar Button | How to Use Microsoft Word 2016’s Spelling and Grammar Check

3. Choose the appropriate option for each spelling and grammar error detected.

Spelling Errors

Choose an option from the suggestions list to change that instance of the spelling error.

Word's Spell Check Suggestions List | How to Use Microsoft Word 2016’s Spelling and Grammar Check

Or, open the drop-down menu for a suggestion and select Change All to change every instance of the spelling error to that suggestion.

Word 2016 Spell Check Suggstions Drop-Down Menu | How to Use Microsoft Word 2016’s Spelling and Grammar Check

You can also choose (a) Add to Dictionary to add the word with its current spelling to your custom dictionary, (b) Ignore Once to ignore that instance of the spelling error, or (c) Ignore All to ignore every instance of the spelling error.

Occasionally, Word will be unable to provide any suggestions; however, when that lapse occurs, the software will still offer the opportunity to add the word to your custom dictionary, ignore the word once, or ignore every instance of the word.

Grammar Errors

Choose an option from the suggestions list to change that instance of the grammar error.

Word 2016 Grammar Check Suggestions | How to Use Microsoft Word 2016’s Spelling and Grammar Check

Or, select (a) Ignore Once to ignore that instance of the grammar error, (b) Don’t check for this issue to stop checking for that type of grammar error, or (c) Options for “Clarity and Conciseness” to open the Grammar Settings dialog box where you can customize the grammar check.

Word 2016 Grammar Check Options | How to Use Microsoft Word 2016’s Spelling and Grammar Check

If you want to learn about the grammar error and see examples, open the drop-down menu above the text box.

Word 2016 Grammar Check Explanation Drop-Down Menu | How to Use Microsoft Word 2016’s Spelling and Grammar Check

Pro Tip: The spelling and grammar check will automatically pause itself if you edit the text during the check. Select the Resume button when you are ready to restart the check.

Word 2016 Spelling & Grammar Check Resume Button | How to Use Microsoft Word 2016’s Spelling and Grammar Check

If you have chosen to include readability statistics in your proofing options, the Readability Statistics dialog box will appear after you complete the spelling and grammar check.

For more information about using the readability statistics in Word, visit “How to Add Passive Voice to Microsoft Word’s Grammar Check and Readability Statistics” for Word 2013 and “How to Use the Passive Voice Tool in Microsoft Word 2016.”

Updated March 03, 2022

Filed Under: Microsoft Word Tagged With: spelling, Word 2010, Word 2013, Word 2016, Word 2019, Word 365

Home » How to Use the Spelling and Grammar Check in Microsoft Word

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Technical Writer and Editor Erin Wright

Hello! My name is Erin. I am a technical writer and editor who shares writing-related software tutorials on this website and on YouTube.

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