Microsoft Word Autocorrecting in Multiple Languages

Microsoft Word, ordinarily a benign and accessible way to write, may all of a sudden begin to mark correctly-spelled words wrong. Not only that, but the suggestions can be in other languages than English! Luckily, Microsoft comes to the rescue with a support article, summarized here.

Detailed Information

1. Check to ensure English is the only Office display and authoring language. The steps in the Word application are:
   1. File,
   2. Options,
   3. Language.
2. Make sure the document has English enabled. Open the Word document, click the "Review" tab, then click the Language button, Language, and "Set Proofing Language." English should be the selected language.
   1. You may find it helpful to check "Do not check spelling or grammar." It's better to do that than completely disable autocorrect, if it's a feature you otherwise enjoy. ALTERNATELY, if it is already, checked, try disabling it, quitting out of the document, and then re-entering.
   2. You can also try unchecking "Detect language automatically" and quitting out of, and then re-entering, the document. ALTERNATELY, if it is already unchecked, try checking it, quitting, and re-entering.
3. You may also be able to highlight the text to change the language:
   1. Press command+A to highlight the whole document,
   2. Click "Mark selected text as,"
   3. Set that to English in the Language > Set Proofing Language window.
4. Review the following Microsoft article for more detailed instructions, as well a few other fixes for rare circumstances: Microsoft Support
5. Completely disable autocorrect. This process will vary by device type, but usually happens in your system settings.

Environment

• Mac or Windows
• Microsoft Word application