When I do a spell check on a Word doc, it will sometimes switch to a different language—French, Italian, Norwegian, etc.—which makes it useless, and I don’t see how to get out of it. I want it to be English only.
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 15.3
You can change the multi-language behaviour by clicking on the bottom toolbar of an open document. You can use this to mark part of a document with a specific language. You can also use this to change the "detect language automatically" setting.
Yes! This did it! Along the bottom of the Word doc is a tiny square icon I never noticed before. Clicking on it allowed me to choose English as the default dictionary. I'll know if it works when the other language spell checks never pop up again.
Thank you!
Give this a try: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.
NOTE 1: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following;
• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed
• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)
• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically
• Disables user-installed fonts
• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files
NOTE 2: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode. This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will insure a successful boot into Safe Mode.
mikevh wrote:
When I do a spell check on a Word doc, it will sometimes switch to a different language—French, Italian, Norwegian, etc.—which makes it useless, and I don’t see how to get out of it. I want it to be English only.
Are you using any keyboard layouts other than English? Word will switch spell check according to keyboard layout, which is not how most apps work.
mikevh wrote:
All ones I've written. I write books.
Like etresoft said, you should be able to select the text and then click on the bottom toolbar to set it all to English.
Very odd it should not stay on English if that is the only keyboard being used...
“Unneeded languages in spell check in word for Mac: When I do a spell check on a Word doc, it will sometimes switch to a different language—French, Italian, Norwegian, etc.—which makes it useless, and I don’t see how to get out of it. I want it to be English only.”
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Chat with Microsoft Support:
This shouldn’t be the case (be default). So, have a chat with Microsoft Support. Explain what has occurred and how you can fix this. You might need to reinstall MS Office (and to do that, you’ll need a new license key from Microsoft —something you’d request while chatting). I remember taking in my Mac in for service, and I had lost Office. Microsoft was fond enough to provide me with a new key, telling me that their reason is because my purchase is my license that I own. Go here and select “Chat Now” (which drags itself over from the bottom-right corner of the window): Microsoft Agent
No, I only use the standard keyboard layout.
Are these docs you are composing, or ones done by other people?
All ones I've written. I write books.
Unneeded languages in spell check in word for Mac
