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Click the File tab, and then click Options. In the Word Options dialog box, click Proofing. Make sure that the Check spelling as you type check box is selected in the When correcting spelling and grammar in Word section. Make sure that all check boxes are cleared in the Exception for section.

Note

Office 365 ProPlus is being renamed to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise. For more information about this change, read this blog post.

Symptoms

Symptom 1

Spell Checker does not recognize misspelled words in Word 2010.

Symptom 2

When you click the Spelling & Grammar button in the Proofing group on the **Review **tab in Word 2010, you receive one of the following messages:

• The spelling and grammar check is complete.
• Proofing Tools are not installed for default language, try re-installing proofing tools.

Cause

This may occur for any one of the following reasons:

• Proofing tools are not installed.
• The Speller EN-US add-in is disabled.
• The Do not check spelling or grammar check box is selected.
• Another language is set as default.
• The following subkey exists in the registry:HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftShared ToolsProofingTools1.0Overrideen-US

Resolution

To resolve this problem, complete the methods that are provided in this article in the order in which they are presented. If you have previously tried one of these methods, and it did not help to resolve the problem, you can skip that method and proceed to the next one.

Method 1: Install proofing tools

To install the proofing tools, follow these steps:

1. Exit all programs.

2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

3. Follow the appropriate step for your operating system:

   • In Windows 7, click Uninstall a program under Programs.
   • In Windows Vista, double-click Programs and Features.
   • In earlier versions of Windows, double-click Add or Remove Programs.

4. Click Microsoft Office Edition, and then click Change.

   Note

   In this step and in the following step, the placeholder **Edition **represents the Microsoft Office edition that is installed on the computer.

5. In the Microsoft Office Edition dialog box, click Add or Remove Features, and then click Continue.

6. Expand Office Shared Features, click the icon to the left of Proofing Tools, and then click Run all from My Computer.

Method 2: Enable the speller EN-US add-in

To enable the add-in, follow these steps:

1. Click the File tab, and then click Options.

2. On the left, click Add-Ins.

3. At the bottom of the Word Options dialog box, click the drop-down arrow under Manage, change the selection from COM Add-ins to Disabled items, and then click Go.

4. In the Disabled Items dialog box, check whether Speller EN-US (nlsdata0009.dll) is available in the Select the ones you which to re-enable box.

5. If Speller EN-US (nlsdata0009.dll) is listed, click it, and then click Enable.

6. Click Close, and then click OK.

Method 3: Enable Check Spelling as you type

To enable spell check as you type, follow these steps:

1. Click the File tab, and then click Options.

2. In the Word Options dialog box, click Proofing.

3. Make sure that the Check spelling as you type check box is selected in the When correcting spelling and grammar in Word section.

4. Make sure that all check boxes are cleared in the Exception for section.

5. Click OK.

My Spell Check Doesn't Work Microsoft Word Mac Download

Method 4: Select language and clear 'Do not check spelling or grammar'

To clear the 'Do not check spelling or grammar check box, follow these steps:

1. Select the entire contents of the document.

2. On the Review tab, click Language in the Language group, and then click Set Proofing Language.

3. In the Language dialog box, select the language that you want.

4. If the Do not check spelling or grammar check box is selected, click to clear the check box.

5. Click OK.

   Note

   If this method fixes the problem, repeat steps 1 through 3 to reopen to the Language dialog box, and then click Set As Default

Method 5: Modify the registry

Important

This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure that you back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs.

To fix this problem yourself, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.

2. In the Run box, type regedit, and then press Enter.

3. Locate and then right-click the following registry subkey:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftShared ToolsProofing Tools1.0Override

4. Click Delete.

5. Exit Registry Editor.

6. Exit and then restart Word.

More information

If none of the methods in this article resolve the problem, try the following:

Remove and then restore the battery at the bottom of the laptop. If the problem persists, replace the battery.

his problem has been reported only on the following Dell laptops:

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• Inspiron 1501
• Vostro 1000