Erin Wright Writing

Writing-Related Software Tutorials

How to Change the Proofing Language in Microsoft Word

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The word Hello in multiple languages with text overlay "How to Change the Proofing Language in Microsoft Word"This tutorial shows how to change the proofing language in Microsoft Word. The proofing language is the language Word uses to spell-check your document and offer grammar suggestions.

The bonus section at the end shows what to do if you don’t see spelling and grammar suggestions in your text.

Do you want to learn about Word’s new spelling and grammar tool? Check out “How to Use the Editor in Word for Microsoft 365 (Updated).”

Table of Contents

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The images below are from Word for Microsoft 365. These steps also apply to Word 2021, Word 2019, and Word 2016. In addition, the steps will be similar in older versions of the software; however, your interface may look different than the interface shown here.

Are you on a Mac? Please see “How to Change the Proofing Language in Word for Mac.”

How to Change the Proofing Language

  1. Press Ctrl + A to select your entire document.

(Alternatively, select the Home tab followed by the Select button and Select All from the drop-down menu.)

Important Note: Word won’t check existing text in the new proofing language unless the text is selected before changing the language.

Selected text in Word 365
Figure 1. Selected text
  1. Select the Review tab in the ribbon.
Review tab in Word 365
Figure 2. Review tab
  1. Select the Language button in the Language group.
Language button in the Review tab in Word 365
Figure 3. Language button
  1. Select Set Proofing Language from the drop-down menu.
Set Proofing Language option in Word 365
Figure 4. Set Proofing Language option
  1. Select the language in the Language dialog box.
Languages in the Language dialog box in Word 365
Figure 5. Languages
  1. Deselect the Do not check spelling or grammar and Detect language automatically options.
Do Not Check Spelling or Grammar and Detect Language Automatically options in Word 365
Figure 6. Do not check spelling or grammar and Detect language automatically options
  1. (Optional) Select the Set As Default button to use the selected language in future documents.
Set As Default button in the Language dialog box in Word 365
Figure 7. Set As Default button
  1. Select the OK button.
OK button in the Language dialog box in Word 365
Figure 8. OK button

Word should now offer spelling and grammar suggestions in the selected language.

Selected text after changing proofing language in Word 365
Figure 9. Selected text after changing proofing language

Bonus Section: How to View Spelling and Grammar Suggestions in the Text

If spelling and grammar suggestions don’t appear in your text, ensure that your preferences are set to show in-text corrections.

  1. Select the File tab in the ribbon.
File tab in Word 365
Figure 10. File tab
  1. Select Options in the Backstage view.
Options in the Backstage view in Word 365
Figure 11. Options tab
  1. Select Proofing in the Word Options dialog box.
Proofing tab in the Word Options dialog box
Figure 12. Proofing tab
  1. Select the Check spelling as you type and Mark grammar errors as you type options.
Check spelling as you type and Mark grammar errors as you type options in the Word Options dialog box in Word 365
Figure 13. Check spelling as you type and Mark grammar errors as you type options
  1. Select the OK button.
OK button in the Proofing tab in the Word Options dialog box in Word 365
Figure 14. OK button

Related Resources

How to Change the Proofing Language for Comments in Microsoft Word

How to Change the Display Language in Microsoft Word

How to Use Track Changes in Microsoft Word

Updated January 03, 2023