Spell Check Dialog Instead of Editor

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Use Classic Spell Check in Word 2016 and Later
Instead of (or in Addition to) the Editor

In Word 2016 Microsoft changed the spelling check interface to the Editor. This has now been incorporated in the Mac versions as well.

The Editor has a clean interface and fits the new look of Office. However, as of this writing it does not allow for checking only a selected area and a number of people prefer the classic Spell Check dialog (which does allow for checking only selected text). As of July 2022 the Editor is still checking the entire document.

When the Editor was first introduced, a macro could display the classic dialog using the command:

Dialogs(wdDialogToolsSpellingAndGrammar).Show

Sometime in 2018 Word was changed so this also displays the new Editor. That was changed back later.

Currently, the following will work:

ActiveDocument.CheckGrammar

Even though it says to check grammar, it checks both spelling and grammar if you have your proofing options set to check both. Even though it says "ActiveDocument" it will check selected text.

Here is a macro that will intercept the F7 key for checking spelling and grammar.

Sub ToolsProofing() 'Intercepts F7 keyboard shortcut
    'Charles Kenyon  26 February 2019 checked 24 October 2022
    If Application.Version < "16.0" Then
        Dialogs(wdDialogToolsSpellingAndGrammar).Show
    Else
        ActiveDocument.CheckGrammar
    End If
End Sub

It is the macro name ToolsProoing that intercepts the F7 key. A different name could be used and a different shorcut assigned.
For more on how to use macros to intercept regular commands/features see: Intercepting events like Save and Print

For macro installation instructions, see:

·       Instructions for Installing Macros from Forums or Websites by Graham Mayor, MVP - http://www.gmayor.com/installing_macro.htm.

·       Install/Employ VBA Procedures (Macros) by Greg Maxey, MVP - http://gregmaxey.com/word_tip_pages/installing_employing_macros.html

bullet

If you want, you can use the Free Add-In instead.

 

If you still want to use the Editor, you can by right-clicking on a spelling error in the document and choosing to "See More."

This macro is shown in the discussion on the Microsoft Answers site. Comments or questions can be posted there.

I do not know if the macros will work on a Mac but they cannot hurt.

Add-In

I have created a small Add-In file with the Macro if you want to install that instead. Here is a link to it.

bullet

Legacy Spell-Check Dialog Add-In

 

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Using Date Fields in Microsoft Word
Calculated Dates
Booklet Formatting and Printing in Microsoft Word
Changing the Default Font in Microsoft Word
Document linked to Printer in Microsoft Word
Fonts Missing from Menu in Microsoft Word
How can I get a different header / footer on the second page?
Heading? Header? Microsoft Word Help
More on Headers and Footers in Word
Letterhead
I want the filename in the footer of every document.
Margins Missing - White Space
Mapped Content Controls and Document Properties
Moving/Reorganizing Pages in Microsoft Word
Print Preview in Microsoft Word
Weird Lines and Borders
Macros and VBA
Malicious Macros vba in Microsoft Word
Master Documents Feature in Microsoft Word
A Back CoverPage in Microsoft Word
Normal Template in Microsoft Word - How to Open or Find the Normal Template
My docs open in the wrong program! Re-registering Word using the commandline.
Moving (Sharing) Customizations in Microsoft Word
Global StyleSheet?
MVP means?
Naming Files - A System is the Key
Posting tips in the Microsoft Word Forums
Getting rid of that (*)#"@^ paperclip! - Taming the Office Assistant
Page X of Y doesn't work in Microsoft Word!
Save Changes to the Global Template? Keeps Popping Up
Templates in Microsoft Word
Global Templates
Too Many Icons on the Taskbar in Microsoft Word 2000
Getting Rid of the Web Toolbar in Microsoft Word
Word for Word Perfect Users
Favorite Documents Menu
Work Menu in Microsoft Word
Spell Check Dialog Instead of Editor
Templates Menu in Microsoft Word
What books have been recommended about Microsoft Word?
Where can I find more templates?
Word Links

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