Microsoft Word The Spelling And Grammar Check Is Complete

When Microsoft Word says “The spelling and grammar check is complete”, it means it has finished its current proofing pass. It does not guarantee that your document contains no mistakes. Review any changes, check that the correct language and proofing settings apply, and read the.

What the completion message means

Word reaches the end of a check after you have dealt with the issues it identifies, including those you correct or ignore. A completion message can therefore appear even when you have deliberately left flagged wording unchanged.

The result also depends on the text being checked and the rules available or enabled. Text excluded from proofing, an unsuitable dictionary or previously ignored issues can explain why a visible mistake remains.

Treat the message as the end of an editing task, rather than approval to publish. A correctly spelt word can still express the wrong meaning, and a grammatically sound sentence can contain an incorrect name, date or instruction.

Run a spelling and grammar check

Word may present its proofing tools as Editor or Spelling & Grammar, depending on the edition and platform. In Word for Microsoft 365, you can open Editor from the Home tab, as described in Microsoft’s guide to checking writing in Word.

1. Open the document and place the cursor in its main text. Clear any selected passage if you intend to review the whole document.
2. Open Editor, or choose Spelling & Grammar on the Review tab where that command is available.
3. Read each flagged word or sentence in context. Accept a correction only when it preserves your intended meaning.
4. Ignore a suggestion when the existing wording is correct. Add a word to the dictionary only after confirming its spelling.
5. When the review finishes, return to the document and check the sentences you changed.

In desktop Word, F7 is another way to start a check. Selecting a sentence or paragraph before pressing F7 lets you check that passage specifically; Microsoft’s keyboard guidance explains this distinction.

If Word finishes but misses an obvious error

Check the language and proofing exclusions

Start with a passage containing a mistake you can identify yourself. In Word for Windows, follow these steps:

1. Select the affected text. For a document written entirely in one language, press Ctrl+A in the document body to select its text.
2. Go to Review > Language > Set Proofing Language.
3. Choose the appropriate language and regional variety, such as English (Australia) or English (United Kingdom).
4. Clear “Do not check spelling or grammar”, then select OK.
5. Run the proofing check again and inspect the affected passage.

For a multilingual document, set each passage to its own language instead of applying one dictionary throughout. If the required proofing tools are unavailable, check the language installation options. Microsoft’s language troubleshooting guide covers missing dictionaries and excluded text.

Recheck issues you previously ignored

If you dismissed a warning earlier, reset the ignored findings before repeating the check. In Word for Windows:

1. Open File > Options > Proofing.
2. Select Recheck Document.
3. Confirm the reset when prompted, then select OK.
4. Run the spelling and grammar checker again.

This brings previously skipped findings back into the review. Microsoft documents the procedure in its Office spelling and grammar instructions.

Review automatic checking and hidden warnings

In the same Windows Proofing settings, review “Check spelling as you type” and “Mark grammar errors as you type”. Under the document exceptions, check whether spelling or grammar warnings are hidden for the current file. Missing underlines and a completed manual check are different observations: inspect the settings relevant to each.

Some editions also offer “Check grammar with spelling”. Enable it if you want grammar included in a manual spelling review. Menu labels and available controls vary, so use the settings shown in your edition.

Remove misspellings from the custom dictionary

A typo accidentally added to a custom dictionary may stop being flagged. In Windows Word, open File > Options > Proofing > Custom Dictionaries, select the relevant dictionary and choose Edit Word List. Delete the incorrect entry, then check the document again. See Microsoft’s custom dictionary instructions for the full process.

Keep legitimate surnames, technical terms and organisation names when their spelling is verified. A dictionary entry tells Word to accept a spelling; it does not establish that the word belongs in every sentence.

Use the controls for your Word platform

Word for the web has its own menus. Select text, then use Review > Editor > Set Proofing Language to change its language. Open Editor from Home to review suggestions. Microsoft’s Word for the web guidance also explains that available checks differ by language.

If you are following instructions written for another edition, first establish whether you are using the browser app or desktop Word. If you are also unsure what your trial includes, the explanation of the Microsoft Office trial version provides useful background.

Review meaning, style and protected text separately

Proofing suggestions need editorial judgement. Review names against the original source, check dates and amounts, and look for missing words or unintended changes in meaning. Read headings and captions as carefully as the main paragraphs.

For academic work, consult the required style guide for citation and formatting rules. Selecting grammar or style preferences does not establish that an entire document complies with APA, MLA or Chicago requirements.

If you can identify an error but cannot edit the passage, investigate document restrictions separately. Our guide to locking text in Microsoft Word explains that related editing control. More document guides are available in the Microsoft Office help collection.

Before sending your file, confirm its proofing language, run a fresh check and read the final text aloud once.