How to Turn Off Spell Check for Selected Text in Word

Quick answer: To stop Microsoft Word from checking spelling and grammar in only one paragraph or selected passage, select that text, go to Review → Language → Set Proofing Language, select Do not check spelling or grammar, and click OK. This changes proofing for the selected text, not the whole document. It is useful for code, technical terms, quotations, and passages in a language you do not want Word to proofread.

Turn off spelling and grammar checks for selected text

1. Select the text or paragraph for which you want to disable spell check
2. In Review Tab > Language, select “Set Proofing Language” to open Language Window
   
3. Check “Do not check spelling or grammar” option
   
4. Click ok to disable spell check for the selected text.

Animated walkthrough of the proofing-language setting

How to Turn Spell Check Back On for That Text

Select the same text, return to Review → Language → Set Proofing Language, clear Do not check spelling or grammar, and click OK. If Word still does not flag an obvious typo, confirm that the correct proofing language is selected and that proofing is enabled in Word’s settings.

When Should You Disable Proofing for Selected Text?

Selective proofing is helpful for code samples, product names, scientific notation, and passages intentionally written in nonstandard language. For text in another natural language, setting the correct proofing language is usually better than disabling checks entirely.

Troubleshooting: Word still shows red or blue underlines

• Only part of the passage is excluded: Select the entire intended passage, including its paragraph mark if needed, and apply the proofing setting again.
• The checkbox is blank or mixed: The selection may contain different proofing settings. Select the entire passage and apply one setting consistently.
• The menu looks different on Mac or the web: The exact commands depend on the Word edition. Use the desktop application if your web edition does not offer the same proofing controls.
• Proofing fails throughout the document: Check the document language and Word proofing preferences; see our Word spell-check troubleshooting guide.

Frequently asked questions

Does this turn off spell check for the entire document?

No. When text is selected before you choose Do not check spelling or grammar, the setting applies to that selection. Without a selection, the effect may depend on the insertion point and subsequent typing, so select the intended text explicitly.

Will the spelling errors be deleted?

No. This setting suppresses proofing for the selected text; it does not change the words. Clear the option later to check the passage again.

Should I use this for a paragraph in another language?

Usually not. If the text is written in another language, first select it and set the correct proofing language. Suppressing checks is more appropriate for code, identifiers, or intentionally nonstandard text.

C P Gupta

C P Gupta is a YouTuber and Blogger. He is expert in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. His YouTube channel @pickupbrain is very popular and has crossed 9.9 Million Views.