how to check spelling in a table?

C Allen 20 Reputation points
2026-06-02T00:27:47.18+00:00

I see misspelled words in tables that arent flagged as misspelled. When I run editor the words arent caught

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For business | Windows
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Answer accepted by question author
Jade Ng 15,855 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-06-02T01:05:02.61+00:00

Dear @C Allen,

Thank you for reaching out, and I understand how concerning it is when spelling errors are not being detected, especially within tables.

From your description, this behavior is usually related to proofing settings being applied specifically to the table content. In Microsoft Word, sections of text including tables can have separate spell-check configurations, which may prevent the Editor from flagging errors.

First, please help me review and check these steps to narrow down the problem: 

Step 1: Apply to entire document

  1. Click inside the problematic table cell
  2. Go to Review > Language > Set Proofing Language
  3. Please check:
    • Correct language selected (e.g., English)
    • “Do not check spelling or grammar” is unchecked

Untitled

Step 2: Verify spell check is enabled globally

  1. Click on File > Options.
  2. In the Word Options dialog box, select Proofing from the left menu.
  3. Under the When correcting spelling and grammar in Word section, ensure the following options are checked.
  4. Click OK to save your settings.

Untitled

Step 3: Check proofing exceptions

In the same Proofing settings:

  • Uncheck “Hide spelling errors in this document only” and “Hide grammar errors in this document only”.

Step 4: Re-run Editor

  • Press F7 or click Editor
  • This forces a full scanUntitled

If the issue persists, I would greatly appreciate your help in providing a few additional details so that I can investigate this further for you:

  • Whether the issue occurs in a single document or across multiple documents
  • The version of Microsoft Word you are currently using
  • If possible, a screenshot of the issue you are experiencing, which will help me better understand and assist you more effectively

I hope this helps. Thank you in advance for your time and cooperation. I look forward to your update.


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  1. Stefan Blom 353.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-06-02T19:53:20.44+00:00

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