Editor in Word not making suggestions

Barbara H 0 Reputation points
2026-09-19T10:31:54.5333333+00:00

When I try to use Editor for a word document I've created it sometimes does not suggest any changes (which are obviously needed). What can I do to get it to work please

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows
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  1. AI answer

    2026-09-19T10:32:09.4633333+00:00

    Try these checks in Word for Windows:

    1. Test whether Editor works in a new blank document.
      • Type a sentence with obvious spelling or grammar errors.
      • Open Home > Editor.
      • If Editor finds issues there, the problem is likely with the original document rather than Editor itself.
    2. Make sure the document language and proofing settings are correct.
      • Press Ctrl+A to select all text.
      • Go to Review > Language > Set Proofing Language.
      • Select the correct language.
      • Make sure Do not check spelling or grammar is cleared.
    3. Review Editor settings.
      • Open Home > Editor.
      • In the Editor pane, select Grammar.
      • Open More options (...) > Customize suggestions.
      • Turn on the issue types that should be checked.
      • If needed, use Reset to default.
    4. Check Word proofing options.
      • Go to File > Options > Proofing.
      • Make sure spelling and grammar checking are enabled.
      • Then select Recheck Document.
    5. Run a full check again.
      • After updating the settings above, start Editor again and review the suggestions.

    Useful behavior to know:

    • Editor runs in the background even when the Editor pane is closed, so underlines can still appear without the pane being open.
    • A “100%” result only means Editor is not currently finding issues in the text it is checking. It does not prove the whole document is error-free.
    • If the document contains more than one language, Editor checks based on the proofing language set for the selected text.

    If the issue happens only in one large document, save a backup copy first before changing proofing settings.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Jhun Buala 5,810 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-19T11:51:17.58+00:00

    Hi Barbara,

    Good day. First check is if the Editor is actually enabled for the document.

    1. In Word, go to Home > Editor and wait a few seconds for it to finish checking.
    2. If it still doesn't flag obvious spelling or grammar issues, go to File > Options > Proofing.
    3. Make sure Check spelling as you type and Mark grammar errors as you type are enabled.
    4. Also check Exceptions for: and make sure Hide spelling errors in this document only and Hide grammar errors in this document only aren't selected.
    5. Close Word completely, reopen the document, and test Editor again.

    By the way, if Editor works in a new blank document but not in this particular file, the issue may be specific to that document or its language settings. In that case, check Review > Language > Set Proofing Language and make sure the correct language is selected and Do not check spelling or grammar isn't enabled.

    I hope this helps.
    Regards,
    Jhun

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  3. Stefan Blom 353.5K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-09-19T12:27:29.63+00:00

    As other replies have pointed out, language formatting is a good starting point when spellchecking and grammar checking are not working as expected. See Suzanne S. Barnhill's article at http://wordfaqs.ssbarnhill.com/MasterSpellCheck.htm .

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