Spell check lives in different places depending on what program you are writing in

Most word processors and email programs have spell check built in, but you have to know where to look — and sometimes you have to turn it on. The location changes between Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Apple Pages, and email clients like Gmail or Outlook. Some programs check as you type (the red squiggly line under misspelled words). Others require you to run a check manually. Understanding where spell check sits in your specific program saves you from sending a message full of typos.

The good news is that once you find it in one program, the pattern is usually similar in others made by the same company. Microsoft products cluster their tools in one place. Google products put theirs in another. Knowing this pattern means you can find spell check quickly, even if you switch between programs.

Key Takeaways

  • In Microsoft Word, spell check runs automatically as you type and shows red underlines; you can also run a full check from the Review tab.
  • Google Docs spell check is automatic and appears as red underlines, with options in the Tools menu to adjust settings.
  • Gmail spell check must be turned on in Settings under the General tab, then appears as you compose a message.
  • Apple Mail and Pages both include spell check that runs automatically, with options to ignore or correct words as you type.
  • Most programs let you add words to a custom dictionary so they stop flagging names, technical terms, or brand names as errors.

Microsoft Word: Review tab and automatic checking

In Microsoft Word, spell check happens in two ways. First, Word checks automatically as you type and underlines misspelled words in red. You can right-click any red-underlined word to see suggestions and choose a correction, or you can ignore it and keep writing.

Second, you can run a full spell check across your entire document. Go to the Review tab at the top of the screen. Click "Spelling & Grammar" (the button that looks like a checkmark with letters). Word will walk through every potential error in the document and give you options to correct, ignore, or add the word to your dictionary. This full check is useful before you send a document to someone else, because it catches errors you may have missed while typing.

If you want to turn off the automatic red underlines (for example, if you are writing in another language or using many technical terms), go to File, then Options, then Proofing. Uncheck "Check spelling as you type." You can always turn it back on the same way.

Google Docs: Tools menu and real-time checking

Google Docs checks spelling automatically as you type and marks misspelled words with a red underline. Click any red-underlined word to see suggestions, or right-click it to choose a correction from the menu that appears.

To access more detailed spell check options, go to Tools in the menu bar, then click "Spelling and grammar." A panel opens on the right side of your screen showing all potential errors in the document. You can correct them one by one, ignore them, or add them to your dictionary. This is useful if you want to review all errors at once rather than fixing them as you notice them.

Google Docs also lets you change the language of the document, which changes what spell check considers correct. If you are writing in Spanish or French, for example, go to File, then Language, and select the language you need. Spell check will then use that language's rules.

Gmail: Settings and compose-time checking

Gmail does not turn on spell check by default, so you have to enable it yourself. Click the gear icon in the top right corner of your Gmail inbox and select "See all settings." Go to the General tab and scroll down to "Spell check." Check the box next to "Use spell check." Click Save Changes at the bottom.

Once you turn it on, spell check appears as you compose a message. Misspelled words show a red underline. Click the underlined word to see suggestions, or right-click it to choose a correction. This check only works in the compose window, not in your inbox or when you are reading messages.

If spell check is slowing down your browser or you prefer to skip it, you can turn it off the same way you turned it on — go back to Settings, General tab, and uncheck the spell check box.

Apple Mail and Pages: Automatic checking built in

Apple Mail includes spell check that runs automatically as you type. Misspelled words appear with a red underline. Right-click any underlined word to see suggestions and choose a correction, or click "Learn Spelling" to add the word to your dictionary so it stops flagging it.

Apple Pages (the word processor on Mac, iPad, and iPhone) works the same way. Spell check is on by default and marks errors in red as you type. You can right-click to correct or add words to your dictionary. If you want to turn off automatic checking, go to Edit in the menu bar, then Spelling and Grammar, then uncheck "Check Spelling While Typing."

Both Apple programs let you set the language for spell check. In Mail, go to Edit, then Spelling and Grammar, and choose your language. In Pages, go to Format, then Language, and select the language you need.

Adding words to your dictionary so they stop being flagged

Every spell check program lets you add words to a custom dictionary. This is useful for names, brand names, technical terms, or words in other languages that spell check does not recognize. Once you add a word, that program stops flagging it as an error.

In Microsoft Word, right-click a red-underlined word and select "Add to Dictionary." In Google Docs, click the underlined word and select "Add to dictionary" from the menu. In Gmail, right-click the word and choose "Add to dictionary." In Apple Mail and Pages, right-click the word and select "Learn Spelling."

Keep in mind that adding a word to your dictionary in one program does not add it to other programs. If you use both Word and Google Docs, you may need to add the same word to both dictionaries. Some programs let you export and import custom dictionaries, but this varies by program and device.

What spell check catches and what it misses

Spell check catches misspelled words — letters in the wrong order or missing letters. It does not catch words that are spelled correctly but used in the wrong context. For example, spell check will not flag "their" as wrong in the sentence "Their going to the store," because "their" is a real word, even though the correct word here is "they're."

Spell check also misses homophones (words that sound the same but have different meanings, like "to," "too," and "two"), words that are close to real words but not quite right, and proper nouns that are not in the dictionary. This is why reading your work aloud or having someone else read it is still important, even with spell check on.

Some programs offer grammar checking in addition to spell checking. Microsoft Word's "Spelling & Grammar" tool and Google Docs' "Spelling and grammar" feature both check for common grammar mistakes like subject-verb disagreement or sentence fragments. These tools are more powerful than spell check alone, but they still miss errors that a human reader would catch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does spell check keep underlining my name or my company name?

Spell check only knows words in its built-in dictionary. Names and brand names are usually not in that dictionary, so spell check flags them as errors. Right-click the word and select "Add to dictionary" (or "Learn Spelling" on Apple devices) to stop it from being flagged. You only have to do this once per program.

Can I turn off spell check completely?

Yes. In Microsoft Word, go to File, Options, Proofing, and uncheck "Check spelling as you type." In Google Docs, go to Tools, Spelling and grammar, and close the panel. In Gmail, go to Settings, General, and uncheck spell check. In Apple Mail and Pages, go to Edit or Format, then Spelling and Grammar, and uncheck "Check Spelling While Typing." You can turn it back on the same way.

Does spell check work the same way on my phone as on my computer?

Most phones have built-in spell check in their keyboard, separate from the spell check in individual apps. Gmail on your phone uses your phone's keyboard spell check, not Gmail's desktop spell check. Google Docs and Microsoft Word on phones have their own spell check features, but they may look different or work slightly differently than on a computer. Check the app's settings to see what options are available.

What is the difference between spell check and grammar check?

Spell check finds misspelled words. Grammar check looks for mistakes in sentence structure, verb tense, punctuation, and word choice. Microsoft Word and Google Docs both offer grammar checking alongside spell check. Grammar check is more advanced but also more likely to flag correct sentences as errors, so always review its suggestions before accepting them.

If I add a word to my dictionary in Word, will it also be added in Gmail?

No. Each program has its own separate dictionary. If you use multiple programs, you need to add the same word to each one's dictionary. Some programs let you export your custom dictionary and import it into another program, but this varies by program and is not always straightforward.