Fixing the Red Underline Issue in Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word features a red wavy underline to indicate spelling mistakes, but for many users, these visual cues can become more of a nuisance than a helpful tool. If you’re finding these indications distracting, here’s a guide on how to effortlessly remove them in just a few clicks.

There are several approaches you can take to address this issue.

1. Correcting Spelling Errors

The most straightforward solution is to fix the spelling errors themselves. For PC users, right-click on the underlined word to reveal a context menu with suggestions for corrections. Review the options and select the one that fits your context best.

Checking suggestions for spelling error in Word on PC.

If you are using a mobile device, you can simply long-press the highlighted word to see the suggested corrections in a menu above it.

Viewing suggestions for spelling mistake in Word on Android.

After fixing the error, the red underline will disappear automatically. However, addressing each mistake one at a time can be tedious, especially if you prefer to review your text in full after typing.

2. Ignoring Errors with the ‘Ignore All’ Button

If you have some reservations regarding Word’s spelling suggestions, you can strive for efficiency by using the Ignore All option. Right-click on any highlighted word and choose Ignore All to eliminate all instances of that specific spelling error from your document.

This method shares the same drawback as fixing errors individually. Alternatively, if you believe a word is correct but unrecognized by Word, you might consider selecting Add to Dictionary.

For a more comprehensive review, navigate to the Review tab in the ribbon, select Proofing -> Spelling and Grammar. This allows you to view all spelling and grammatical errors listed in a sidebar, with options to Ignore Once, Ignore All, or Add to Dictionary.

On mobile, long-press the word and select Ignore All from the appearing menu.

3. Adjusting the Proofing Language

If Microsoft Word is set to proofread in one language while you’re typing in another (for instance, writing in Spanish but with English set as the default), this mismatch may cause an overwhelming number of red underlines.

To prevent this confusion, you need to adjust the language settings. Click on File in the ribbon menu, then select Options at the bottom of the sidebar.

In the pop-up window, navigate to Language and click on the Add Language button found in the Office authoring languages and proofing section.

Locate and select your desired language, then click Add. After it’s been added, choose it and click Set as Preferred, followed by OK.

Setting new language as preferred in Word on PC.

Once the new language is set, you may need to restart Word for the changes to take effect. If Word fails to detect your new language and persists in using English, go to the bottom of the page, click on English, and switch to your selected language, then press OK.

Switching language directly from document in Word on PC.

With the language configured correctly, Word will only flag genuine errors in your foreign language text. On mobile devices, open the document, tap Edit at the bottom, and adjust the language settings through the Review section accordingly.

4. Fine-Tuning Proofing and Autocorrect Options

For those who wish to eliminate the red underlines entirely, consider customizing your proofing options. On PC, go to File -> Account and then select Proofing in the pop-up menu.

Customizing proofing options in Word on PC.

In the section labeled When correcting spelling and grammar in Word, uncheck the following options:

Check spelling as you type
Mark grammar errors as you type
Check grammar with spelling

By doing so, you should no longer see those red underlines disrupting your work. If you want to disable the red underlines for a specific document only, opt for Hide spelling errors in this document only and Hide grammar errors in this document only.

Enabling options to hide spelling errors for a specific document in Word.

For mobile users, revisit the Review screen and select Hide All Proofing Marks found under Proofing and Language.

Now that you’ve mastered how to eliminate those pesky distractions in Word, you might want to continue learning more tips. For instance, discover how to export a Word document as a PDF or learn how to create a fillable form in Word.

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