Google Docs features an aggressive, built-in spelling and grammar checker. As you type, it constantly scans your text, underlining perceived spelling errors with red squiggly lines and highlighting grammatical suggestions with blue underlines. While this is helpful for standard business reports or essays, it can be incredibly distracting when writing creative fiction, drafting code snippets, transcribing dialect, or working with highly technical jargon that the Google dictionary simply does not recognise.
The Problem with Red Underlines
When working on a document filled with non-standard words (like fantasy character names or specialised medical terminology), the page can quickly become flooded with red and blue lines. This visual clutter can break your concentration and make it difficult to read your own writing. Furthermore, accidentally clicking these underlines can cause Google Docs to autocorrect words you specifically intended to spell that way.
How to Disable the Spelling and Grammar Overlays
You can turn off these visual distractions quickly from the main toolbar.
- Open your document in Google Docs on your computer browser.
- In the top menu bar, click on Tools.
- Hover your mouse over the Spelling and grammar option in the drop-down menu. A secondary menu will slide out to the right.
- You will see two options with checkmarks next to them: Show spelling suggestions and Show grammar suggestions.
- Click on Show spelling suggestions to uncheck it and remove the red underlines.
- Click on Tools > Spelling and grammar again, and click Show grammar suggestions to uncheck it and remove the blue underlines.
Running a Manual Check Later
Turning off these visual suggestions does not permanently break the spellchecker; it simply hides the live, on-screen warnings. The engine is still available whenever you need it.
If you finish drafting your document and decide you want to run a traditional, manual spell check before publishing, simply go back to Tools > Spelling and grammar and select Spelling and grammar check (or press Ctrl + Alt + X / Cmd + Option + X). A dialogue box will appear in the top right corner, allowing you to review and approve or ignore errors one by one, without cluttering the page while you write.