How to Disable Automatic Spell-Checker in Word 2003

The automatic spell-checker can be distracting while you are typing a document, especially if you purposely include nonstandard spellings. You can disable this feature and still run spell-checker after you have finished writing. Here's how.

Things You'll Need

• Microsoft Word 2003
• Computer

Instructions

1. Open a document in Word 2003 that has the automatic spell-checker enabled.

2. Pull down the "Tools" menu and scroll down to the bottom. Click on "Options." This pulls up a window with a number of control tabs.

3. Click on the "Spelling and Grammar" tab to open the controls.

4. At the top of the "Spelling" list, uncheck the box next to "Check spelling as you type."

5. Click the "OK" button to apply the changes to your document.

Tips & Warnings

• If you aren't sure whether the automatic spell-checker is enabled in a Word 2003 document, type in an obvious misspelling. If the feature is enabled, a red squiggly line will appear under the misspelled word.

• Proper names are often considered misspellings.

• British English uses different spellings than American English. Make sure your computer is using the right dictionary to check your spelling.