Forum Discussion
Word professional 2013 How to set default proofing language
Stefan_BlomI dont know how I got there but I have attached image of proofing languages. somehow I have chinese, US and UK with both UK and US ticked, its doing my head in. Ill check out the links you sent, than
In the Language dialog box, you will always see all languages that are supported in Word. However, a supported language isn't necessarily installed. Each installed language have a check mark next to it (in the dialog box).
Do post back with the results once you have had a chance to read the articles. 🙂
- cant-sleepAug 08, 2021Copper Contributor
Stefan_BlomTo be honest, I now find Microsoft Word settings SO convoluted and also dependent on general windows settings. It does so much to predict what you want rather than simply allow you to set what you want. I am still unaware why in languages / proofing I have 3 languages above the double line including Chinese. I am also unaware why both English uk and English US are both checked with a tick. I also cannot see how I change this. I am provided with a dialogue screen with no apparent way of changing the displayed options. I mean what is so difficult about allowing you to click on and change or toggle a setting.
I have found a solution though - disable spelling and grammar check (that I can do in the word dialogue box) and add the free Grammarly spell/grammar plug in. It is better and much easier to use and maintain than Microsoft's own.
- Stefan_BlomAug 08, 2021MVP
When the default proofing language refuses to change, the underlying cause could be that the display language in Windows is different from the desired default proofing language in Office. I have experienced this myself, and I can only assume that it is a bug of some sort. The workaround is to ensure that the Windows display language matches the language you want to use as the default when proofing text in Word.
The fact that you see more than one "flavor" of English installed at the same time is by design, as far as I know. You seldom (if ever) get only US English, for example.
- cant-sleepAug 09, 2021Copper Contributor
Stefan_BlomMy display language is English UK, which is the proofing language I also want to use. My input language is English US which I cannot change since, like most devices my keyboard layout is US. If I change this some keyboard keys display the wrong characters. I just want to tell word 'check my spelling in English UK or don't bother checking at all.' But Word has different Ideas. There is a tickbock there and an option there to do exactly what I want, but Word ignores it and changes it back! I open Review / Language / Set proofing language and disable spelling and grammar check. I click on the tickbox and a tick appears. I click OK. I scroll further down, repeat, and tick box is empty again and spelling / grammar check has re-enabled itself. I save the document and reopen it tick box has deselected itself again. I highlight all the text and click the tickbox and now I get a solid black square. I save, scroll down and tickbox is empty again. Same if I save file and re-open. There is just no logic, no explanation, no instructions. I use Word to save me time but I spend so much time with 'Not responding' errors, restarting because text is not hilighting, re-setting settings I have already set. It is almost as if Word has got too big for Microsoft and they have lost control of all the menus, settings, dot files, dependencies with Windows settings. It is becoming so cumbersome and unreliable. It is a shame because at one time Microsoft Office was the go-to choice and was their flagship.