TAHOE update on Mac spellcheck and grammar not working

Question

I updated my Macbook to TAHOE this week. Now, my spelling and grammar is not being corrected while typing nor are the errors being tagged.

Answer 1

Hello! On Mac with Microsoft 365 updated to TAHOE, Word relies on both its Editor settings and macOS spellcheck. Try to open Word, go to Tools, then Spelling and Grammar. Make sure “Check spelling as you type” and “Check grammar with spelling” are checked.

Also, go to System Settings, Keyboard, and Text, and ensure “Correct spelling automatically” is enabled. Restart Word after adjusting these settings. If it still does not work, Microsoft recommends signing out and back into your Microsoft 365 account, or reinstalling the Office apps to restore Editor functionality.

Answer 2

On macOS after a Tahoe update, spellcheck and grammar usually fail because either the document language is wrong or automatic checking is turned off. Use these steps in Word for Mac:

1. Fix the document language
   1. Open the affected document.
   2. Press Command+A to Select All.
   3. Go to Tools > Language.
   4. Choose the correct language dictionary (for example, English (US)).
   5. Make sure “Do not check spelling or grammar” is unchecked.
   6. Click OK.
2. Make the language setting the default for new documents
   1. Open a blank document.
   2. Press Command+A.
   3. Go to Tools > Language.
   4. Select the correct language dictionary again.
   5. Ensure “Do not check spelling or grammar” is unchecked.
   6. Click Default, then Yes to apply to all new documents.
3. Ensure automatic spelling and grammar checking is enabled
   1. On the Word menu, click Preferences > Spelling & Grammar.
   2. Under Spelling, check “Check spelling as you type.”
   3. Under Grammar, check “Check grammar as you type.”
   4. Close the dialog to save.
4. If errors still are not marked, reset Word’s proofing configuration
   1. Quit all Office apps.
   2. On the Go menu in Finder, click Home.
   3. Open Library (hold OPTION while clicking Go if Library is hidden).
   4. Open Preferences.
   5. Drag com.microsoft.word.plist and the Microsoft folder to the desktop.
   6. Restart the Mac and test Word again.

If the issue persists, provide a sample document and current macOS/Office versions in a support channel so configuration-specific issues can be checked.

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References:

• Spell check does not work in Word for Mac 2011
• Check grammar, spelling, and more in Word
• Spell check isn't working (Word for Mac) - Microsoft Q&A
• Word spell check is not working - Microsoft Q&A