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Excel Spell Check Not Working: How to Fix

Having trouble with Excel spell check not working? Here’s how to fix it.

Why Spell Check Is Not Working

If you are experiencing issues with the spell check function in Excel, there are a few potential reasons why it may not be working properly. One common reason is that the spell check feature may be turned off in your settings. To fix this, click on the “File” tab, then select “Options,” and navigate to the “Proofing” section. Make sure the “Check spelling as you type” box is checked.

Another reason why spell check may not be working is due to the language settings in Excel. If the language is not set to the correct one, the spell check function may not recognize certain words as misspelled. To adjust the language settings, go to the “Review” tab, then select “Language,” and choose the appropriate language for your document.

It is also possible that the spell check function is not working because the text you are trying to spell check is in a different file format that Excel does not support. In this case, try copying and pasting the text into a new Excel worksheet or saving the document in a compatible file format.

Fixing Spell Check in Individual Cells and Ranges

  • Check the cell formatting:
    • Make sure the cells you want to spell check are formatted as text.
    • Select the cells, right-click, and choose Format Cells. Under the Number tab, select Text.
  • Reset the spell check options:
    • Go to File > Options > Proofing.
    • Click on Custom Dictionaries and then click Reset Ignore Words.
  • Run a manual spell check:
    • Select the cells you want to spell check.
    • Go to the Review tab and click on Spelling.

Enabling Spell Check in Multiple Sheets

To enable spell check in multiple sheets in Excel, simply open the workbook containing the sheets you want to check. Select all the sheets you want to check by holding down the Control key and clicking on each sheet tab. Once all the sheets are selected, click on the Review tab in the ribbon at the top of the Excel window. Then, click on the Spelling button in the Proofing group.

Excel will now check the spelling in all the selected sheets. If any spelling errors are found, Excel will prompt you to correct them. Click on the suggested corrections or type in the correct spelling. Repeat this process for each sheet you want to check.

This simple process will ensure that spell check works across multiple sheets in Excel.

Checking Spelling in the Entire Workbook

To check the spelling in the entire workbook in Excel, you can use the spell check feature. Simply click on the “Review” tab in the ribbon menu, then click on “Spelling” in the “Proofing” group. This will start the spell check process for the entire workbook.

If Excel is not catching spelling errors, you may need to check your language settings to make sure the correct language is selected. You can do this by clicking on the “File” tab, then “Options”, followed by “Language”. From there, you can select the language you want to use for spell check.

Another troubleshooting step is to make sure the spell check feature is enabled. You can do this by going to the “File” tab, then “Options”, followed by “Proofing”. Make sure the “Check spelling as you type” option is checked.

Addressing Spell Check Issues in Text Formulas

If you are experiencing spell check issues in your Excel text formulas, there are a few steps you can take to fix the problem. One common issue is that the spell check feature may be turned off in Excel. To turn it back on, double-click on the cell where you want to enable spell check and then click on the “Review” tab in the Excel Ribbon. Next, click on “Spelling” in the Proofing group to run the spell check.

Another possible solution is to check your Microsoft Office settings to ensure that spell check is enabled across all Office applications, including Excel. You can do this by opening any Office program such as Word or PowerPoint and navigating to the options menu. Check the settings related to spell checker and ensure they are turned on.

If the issue persists, you can try repairing your Office installation through the control panel. This may resolve any underlying issues that are affecting the spell check functionality in Excel.

In some cases, spell check issues in Excel may be related to the language settings on your computer. Make sure that the language selected in Excel matches the language you are writing in to ensure accurate spell check results.

Utilizing Macros for Spell Checking

To utilize macros for spell checking in Excel, you can create a custom macro that will check the spelling of your text automatically. First, open Excel and navigate to the “View” tab on the ribbon. Then, click on “Macros” and select “Record Macro.” Name your macro and assign it a keyboard shortcut for easy access.

Next, start recording your macro by clicking “OK” and then using the spell check feature in Excel. Once you have completed the spell check, stop recording the macro by clicking on the “Stop Recording” button.

To run the macro and check the spelling of your text, simply double-click the macro from the “Macros” menu. This will automatically run the spell check on your selected text in the worksheet.

By utilizing macros for spell checking in Excel, you can save time and ensure that your documents are error-free. This efficient method can improve your productivity and overall user experience when working with spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel.

Highlighting Misspelled Words

Misspelled words highlighted in red.

Misspelled Word Correction
Spellcheck Spell check
Excwl Excel
Nott Not
Wroking Working

Adjusting Spell Check Settings

To adjust spell check settings in Excel, first navigate to the “Review” tab on the ribbon at the top of the screen. Click on “Spelling” in the “Proofing” group to open the spell check dialog box. Here, you can choose options such as checking spelling as you type or checking grammar errors.

To customize the spell check settings further, click on “Options” in the spell check dialog box. Under the “Spelling” tab, you can add words to the dictionary, change the language, or adjust the autocorrection settings. Make sure to check the options that best suit your needs.

If the spell check is still not working properly, try restarting Excel or your computer. Sometimes, a simple reset can fix any glitches in the software. Additionally, make sure you have the latest updates installed for Excel to ensure optimal performance.

Resolving Greyed Out Spelling Button

If you are experiencing a greyed out spelling button in Excel, follow these steps to fix the issue:

1. Check if the worksheet is protected. If it is, unprotect the worksheet by going to the Review tab, clicking on “Unprotect Sheet,” and entering the password if required.

2. Make sure that the cells you are trying to spell check are not formatted as text. Select the cells, go to the Home tab, click on the drop-down arrow next to “Number Format,” and choose “General” to change the format.

3. Verify that the spell check feature is enabled in Excel. Go to the File tab, click on Options, select Proofing, and ensure that the “Check spelling as you type” option is checked.

Overcoming Edit Mode Spell Check Limitations

To overcome Edit Mode spell check limitations in Excel, you can follow these steps:

Step 1: Make sure you are in the correct mode for spell checking by navigating to the Review tab in Excel.

Step 2: Click on the Spelling button in the Review tab to start the spell check process.

Step 3: Review any misspelled words that are identified by the spell checker and choose the appropriate correction.

Remember, Excel’s spell check feature may not be as robust as other programs like Microsoft Word, so it’s important to carefully review your spreadsheet for any errors that may have been missed.

Adding Specialized Dictionaries

Specialized dictionaries in Excel

Choose a specialized dictionary that fits your needs and click “OK” to add it to Excel. This will help Excel recognize specialized terms and improve the accuracy of the spell check feature.

Adding specialized dictionaries can be especially helpful for industries with specific terminology or jargon. It can also enhance the overall usability and productivity of Excel by providing more accurate spell check suggestions.

FAQ

Why is my Excel not doing spell check?

Your Excel may not be doing spell check because you need to ensure you are in a cell with text and on an unprotected sheet for the spell check function to work properly. Also, make sure you are not in edit mode while trying to use spell check, as this may disable the spell check button. Additionally, Excel’s spell check does not review text within formulas.

How do you turn on spelling check in Excel?

To turn on spelling check in Excel, you can click on Review > Spelling or simply press F7.

Why is my spell check suddenly not working?

Your spell check may not be working suddenly due to a changed setting, off language settings, exceptions placed on the document, or issues with the Word template.

Why is my AutoCorrect not working in Excel?

Your AutoCorrect may not be working in Excel because the “Replace text as you type” check box is not selected on the AutoCorrect tab. Make sure this box is checked to ensure AutoCorrect functions properly.

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