The Red Squiggly Distraction
Google Docs features a built-in spell checker that actively monitors your typing in real-time. When it detects a word that does not exist in its standard dictionary, it immediately flags it by placing a jagged red line underneath the text. This “spelling correction suggestion” is designed to help you catch typos before you finalize a document, ensuring your writing appears professional and accurate.
While this is standard functionality for any word processor, it can become incredibly annoying depending on what you are writing. If you are drafting a fantasy novel filled with made-up locations and character names, or writing a highly technical document filled with proprietary industry acronyms, Google Docs will flag almost every other word as a “mistake.” Having your document covered in red squiggly lines is visually distracting and can severely disrupt your creative flow or technical focus. If you prefer to write uninterrupted and only check your spelling manually when the draft is finished, you should disable these automatic visual suggestions.
How to Hide Spelling Suggestions
You can turn off the real-time red underlines via the Tools menu.
- Open your document in Google Docs.
- Look at the top toolbar and click on the Tools menu.
- Hover your mouse over the Spelling and grammar option in the dropdown list.
- A secondary menu will appear to the right. Look for the option labelled Show spelling suggestions.
- If there is a checkmark next to it, click the option to uncheck it.
The red squiggly lines will instantly disappear from your document. You can now type freely without Docs visually interrupting you over unrecognized words. (Note: You can still manually run a full spell check at any time by clicking Tools > Spelling and grammar > Spelling and grammar check, or by pressing `Ctrl + Alt + X`).