The Distraction of the Red Squiggle
Microsoft Word’s built-in spell checker is an invaluable tool for professional writing. By default, it actively scans your document as you type, instantly underlining any unrecognised words with a jagged red line. While this immediate feedback is helpful for some, it can be incredibly distracting for creative writers, students drafting essays, or anyone trying to maintain their train of thought. If you are typing a fantasy novel filled with made-up names, or a highly technical document filled with jargon, a screen covered in red squiggles can cause serious anxiety and break your writing flow.
How to Hide Spelling Errors While You Type
You can instruct Microsoft Word to completely stop flagging errors on your screen while you are actively drafting, allowing you to focus on getting your words down first and worrying about corrections later.
1. Open Microsoft Word.
2. Click on the File tab located in the top-left corner.
3. Click on Options at the bottom of the left-hand menu.
4. In the Word Options window, select Proofing from the left sidebar.
5. Scroll down to the section titled “When correcting spelling and grammar in Word.”
6. Locate the checkbox labelled Check spelling as you type.
7. Untick this checkbox.
8. Click OK to save your changes.
Running a Manual Spell Check
Once you turn this feature off, the red squiggly lines will vanish permanently. You can write your entire document in peace without Word interrupting you. However, you should not skip proofreading entirely. When you are completely finished drafting and are ready to edit, simply press the F7 key on your keyboard (or go to the Review tab and click Spelling & Grammar). Word will then run a traditional, manual spell check on the entire document, walking you through any potential errors one by one in a dedicated side panel.