When you type a document in Google Docs, the built-in spell checker automatically monitors your words, underlining any mistakes with a red squiggly line. By default, this dictionary is tied to your Google Account’s primary language—which, for most users in the western hemisphere, is US English. If you live in the UK, Canada, or Australia, you will constantly see red lines under words like “colour,” “organise,” or “centre.” If you are writing a document in Spanish or French, literally every word you type will be marked as an error. To fix this, you must tell Google Docs which language dictionary to use for your specific document.
How to Change the Spell Check Language
Changing the language in Google Docs only applies to the specific document you currently have open. It does not permanently change your entire Google Account interface.
- Open your document in Google Docs on a web browser.
- Look at the main menu bar at the very top of the screen and click on File.
- Scroll down the drop-down menu and hover your mouse over Language.
- A large fly-out menu will appear listing dozens of different languages and regional dialects.
- Scroll through the list and click on your desired language (for example, English (United Kingdom) or Español).
The Immediate Effect
As soon as you click the new language, the menu will close, and Google Docs will instantly rescan your entire document using the new dictionary.
If you selected UK English, the red squiggly lines under words like “favourite” and “travelling” will disappear immediately. Furthermore, if you use the built-in grammar suggestion tool or voice typing, they will now expect and process regional phrasing and spelling specific to the language you selected.
Remember, if you start a brand new, blank document tomorrow, it will revert back to your Google Account’s default language, and you will need to perform these steps again for the new file.