How to Change the Default Dictionary Language in Microsoft Word

When you type a document in Microsoft Word, the software relies on a built-in dictionary to power its automatic spell checker and grammar tools. By default, this dictionary is usually set to match your operating system’s regional settings (such as US English). However, if you are a bilingual writer, or if you frequently draft correspondence for an international audience (e.g., switching from US English to UK English or Spanish), you will quickly become frustrated as Word marks every perfectly spelled foreign word with a glaring red squiggle. To fix this, you must change the default proofing language.

How to Change the Dictionary Language for a Single Document

If you only need to change the spelling rules for the current document you are working on, follow these steps:

1. Open your Microsoft Word document.
2. Look at the very bottom edge of the Word window (the Status Bar).
3. Click on the name of the current language displayed there (for example, you might see English (United States)).
4. A “Language” dialog box will pop up, displaying a list of installed dictionaries.
5. Scroll through the list and select your desired language (e.g., Spanish (Spain) or English (United Kingdom)).
6. Ensure the checkbox next to “Do not check spelling or grammar” is unchecked.
7. Click the OK button.

Word will instantly re-evaluate your entire document using the new dictionary, and the incorrect red squiggles will disappear.

How to Change the Default Dictionary Language Permanently

If you have permanently relocated, or if your primary language has changed, having to manually adjust the dictionary every time you open a new blank document is highly inefficient. You can instruct Word to use a new language by default for all future files.

1. Open Microsoft Word and create a blank document.
2. Click on the Review tab in the main ribbon menu at the top of the screen.
3. In the “Language” group, click the Language button (it has an icon of an ‘A’ and a Chinese character).
4. Select Set Proofing Language… from the drop-down menu.
5. Scroll through the list and click on the language you want to use moving forward.
6. Once the language is highlighted in blue, click the Set As Default button located in the bottom-left corner of the dialog box.
7. Word will display a stark warning asking if you are sure you want to affect the NORMAL template, which applies to all new documents. Click Yes to confirm.
8. Click OK to close the window.

From this point onward, every time you press Ctrl + N to start a new document, the spell checker will automatically use your newly assigned default dictionary.