Turning off spell check in Word 2019 is a pretty simple task. If you’re tired of those squiggly red lines popping up under every other word you type, or if you’re working with a document that has a lot of technical jargon or names Word doesn’t recognize, you might want to disable spell check. Just a few clicks and you’ll be on your way to a spell check-free writing experience.
Step by Step Tutorial to Turn Off Spell Check in Word 2019
Before we jump into the steps, let’s quickly cover what we’re about to do. By following the steps below, you’ll be disabling the automatic spell check feature in Word 2019. This means Word will stop marking words it thinks are spelled incorrectly.
Step 1: Open Word Options
To start, click on the ‘File’ tab in the upper-left corner of Word, then click on ‘Options’ at the bottom of the left-hand sidebar.
Opening the Word Options is your gateway to customizing your Word experience. Here you can adjust all kinds of settings, but today we’re focusing on spell check.
Step 2: Click on Proofing
In the Word Options dialogue box, click on ‘Proofing’ on the left-hand side.
The Proofing section contains all the settings related to checking your document for spelling and grammatical errors.
Step 3: Uncheck ‘Check spelling as you type’
Under the ‘When correcting spelling and grammar in Word’ section, uncheck the box next to ‘Check spelling as you type’.
By unchecking this option, you are telling Word that you don’t want it to automatically check your spelling as you write.
Step 4: Click OK
After you’ve unchecked the ‘Check spelling as you type’ box, click ‘OK’ at the bottom of the Word Options dialogue box to save your changes.
Clicking OK will save your preferences and apply the changes to your current and future documents until you decide to change the settings back.
After you’ve gone through these steps, Word will no longer underline those supposedly misspelled words. You can type freely without the interruption of red squiggly lines. If you decide you want to check the spelling later, you can always use the ‘Spelling & Grammar’ check under the ‘Review’ tab.
Tips for Turning Off Spell Check in Word 2019
- Remember, when you turn off spell check, it won’t catch any typos or mistakes. Always proofread your document before finalizing it.
- If you’re working on a document that uses a lot of unique terminology, consider adding those words to Word’s dictionary instead of turning off spell check entirely.
- You can also turn off grammar checks in the same Proofing settings if you find that feature distracting as well.
- If you only want to disable spell check for a specific section of your text, highlight that section and go to ‘Set Proofing Language’ to turn off spell check for that section alone.
- Keep in mind that turning off spell check is local to the Word on your computer. If you work on a document on another computer with spell check enabled, those red lines will reappear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off spell check affect other Microsoft Office programs?
No, turning off spell check in Word 2019 will not affect other Office programs. Each program has its own settings you would need to adjust.
Can I turn spell check back on after disabling it?
Yes, you can easily turn spell check back on by going back into the Word Options and checking the ‘Check spelling as you type’ box again.
Does disabling spell check also turn off grammar check?
No, grammar check settings are separate. You can choose to disable both or just one of them.
Is it possible to disable spell check for a single document?
Yes, the settings you change in Word Options will apply to all documents, but you can turn off spell check for a single document by going to ‘Review’ and then ‘Language’ and setting the proofing options for that specific document.
Can I add words to the dictionary instead of turning off spell check?
Absolutely. If Word keeps flagging certain words as misspelled, you can right-click on the word and select ‘Add to Dictionary’ to prevent it from being marked in the future.
Summary
- Open Word Options.
- Click on Proofing.
- Uncheck ‘Check spelling as you type’.
- Click OK.
Conclusion
Turning off spell check in Word 2019 can be a game-changer for some users. Whether it’s the annoyance of the red squiggles under jargon and names or just the desire for an uncluttered writing space, the process is straightforward and quick. Just remember that without spell check, the responsibility to catch errors falls entirely on you. Always double-check your work for typos and mistakes, as even the best of us can miss something. Alternatively, if turning off spell check entirely is too drastic, consider customizing the settings to better suit your needs or add frequently flagged words to the dictionary. Whichever route you choose, Word 2019 offers the flexibility to make the writing experience your own. So go ahead, tailor your Word environment, and write with confidence, knowing you have control over how you turn off spell check in Word 2019.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.