Running a spelling check in Word usually requires opening the Review tab and clicking Spelling & Grammar. Many users want a faster way to trigger this tool without lifting their hands from the keyboard. Word does not have a built-in single-key shortcut for the full spelling and grammar check dialog, but you can assign one using the Customize Keyboard feature. This article explains how to assign a custom keyboard shortcut to the Spelling & Grammar command and how to use the existing F7 key as an alternative.
Key Takeaways: Customizing the Spelling Check Shortcut in Word
- File > Options > Customize Ribbon > Customize (Keyboard shortcuts): Opens the Customize Keyboard dialog where you can assign any shortcut to the Spelling & Grammar command.
- Alt+F7 shortcut: Runs spelling check on the current word only, not the full document. Useful for quick in-line corrections.
- F7 key (default): Opens the full Spelling & Grammar dialog to check the entire document from the cursor position.
Understanding the Spelling Check Commands and Their Default Shortcuts
Word provides two main spelling-check commands: Spelling & Grammar and Spelling (context menu). The Spelling & Grammar command opens the Editor pane or the classic dialog, depending on your Word version. The context-menu spelling check runs on a single word when you right-click a flagged error.
The default keyboard shortcut for the full Spelling & Grammar check is F7. This key works in all modern versions of Word, including Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2021, Word 2019, and Word 2016. Pressing F7 starts the check from the current cursor position and continues to the end of the document. If you want to check the entire document, place the cursor at the beginning before pressing F7.
Word also has a second built-in shortcut: Alt+F7. This shortcut opens the spelling checker for the word at the cursor position. It shows a list of suggestions in a small pop-up, letting you correct one word at a time without opening the full dialog. This shortcut is most useful when you see a red squiggle and want to fix it quickly.
Neither F7 nor Alt+F7 can be changed through the Customize Keyboard dialog because they are hard-coded system shortcuts. However, you can assign a different shortcut to the same command if you prefer a different key combination, such as Ctrl+Shift+S or Ctrl+Alt+C.
Steps to Assign a Custom Shortcut to the Spelling Check Command
Follow these steps to create a custom keyboard shortcut for the Spelling & Grammar command in Word.
- Open the Options dialog
Click File in the top-left corner of Word. In the backstage view, click Options at the bottom of the left pane. The Word Options dialog opens. - Go to Customize Ribbon
In the Word Options dialog, click Customize Ribbon on the left side. This panel shows ribbon customization options and the keyboard shortcuts section. - Open the Customize Keyboard dialog
At the bottom of the Customize Ribbon panel, look for the label Keyboard shortcuts. Click the Customize button next to it. The Customize Keyboard dialog appears. - Select the correct command category
In the Categories list on the left, scroll down and click All Commands. This shows every command available in Word, including spelling-related ones. - Locate the Spelling & Grammar command
In the Commands list on the right, scroll down until you find ToolsSpellingAndGrammar. Select it. The dialog displays any current shortcuts assigned to this command below the list. - Enter your new shortcut
Click inside the Press new shortcut key box. Press the key combination you want to assign, such as Ctrl+Alt+S. The dialog shows whether that combination is already assigned to another command. If it says Currently assigned to: [something], choose a different combination to avoid conflicts. - Assign the shortcut
Click the Assign button. The new shortcut appears in the Current keys list. Click Close to return to the Word Options dialog, then click OK to save all changes.
After completing these steps, press your custom shortcut at any time in Word to launch the Spelling & Grammar check. The shortcut works in all documents, including new ones you create later.
Common Issues When Setting a Spelling Check Shortcut
The shortcut I assigned does not work
If your custom shortcut does not trigger the spelling check, the most likely cause is a conflict with another program. For example, some screen readers or clipboard managers reserve Ctrl+Alt combinations. Test the shortcut in a different application to see if it triggers that program’s function instead. If it does, choose a different combination in Word, such as Ctrl+Shift+E or Ctrl+Alt+G.
F7 opens the Editor pane instead of the classic dialog
In Word for Microsoft 365, F7 opens the Editor pane on the right side of the window. This is the modern spelling and grammar checker. The classic dialog is no longer available in that version. If you prefer the classic dialog, you can assign a shortcut to the ToolsSpellingAndGrammar command, which still opens the classic dialog in some contexts. However, in the latest updates, both F7 and the custom shortcut open the Editor pane. There is no way to force the classic dialog in Word for Microsoft 365.
Alt+F7 does nothing
Alt+F7 only works when the cursor is placed on a word with a red squiggle spelling error. If you press Alt+F7 on a correctly spelled word, nothing happens. Press it on a flagged error, and a small pop-up appears with suggestions. This shortcut is not customizable through the Customize Keyboard dialog.
My custom shortcut disappears after closing Word
Custom keyboard shortcuts are stored in the Normal.dotm template. If this template is corrupted or replaced, shortcuts reset to defaults. To preserve your shortcuts, back up the Normal.dotm file. Its default location is %appdata%\Microsoft\Templates. Copy this file to a safe folder. If shortcuts disappear, close Word, replace the current Normal.dotm with your backup, and restart Word.
Default Spelling Check Shortcuts vs Custom Shortcuts
| Item | Default Shortcut (F7) | Custom Shortcut (e.g., Ctrl+Alt+S) |
|---|---|---|
| Activation method | Press F7 key | Press user-assigned key combination |
| Scope of check | Full document from cursor position | Full document from cursor position |
| Customization | Cannot be changed | Fully customizable via Word Options |
| UI dialog type | Editor pane in M365; classic dialog in older versions | Same as F7 in the same Word version |
| Conflict risk | None | Possible conflict with other programs or add-ins |
| Persistence | Always available | Stored in Normal.dotm; lost if template is replaced |
You can now assign a custom keyboard shortcut to the Spelling & Grammar command in Word using the Customize Keyboard dialog under File > Options > Customize Ribbon. Use F7 for a quick default check or Alt+F7 for single-word corrections. To avoid losing your custom shortcuts, back up the Normal.dotm template file regularly. If you frequently check spelling in long documents, consider combining your custom shortcut with the AutoCorrect options under File > Options > Proofing to reduce manual corrections.