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Spell Check In Google Sheets: (Where is it? and How to Use it)

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In today’s fast-paced world, typing swiftly and efficiently is vital for personal and professional responsibilities. Even the most seasoned typists sometimes make errors, which is where spell check comes in.

Google Sheets, the popular spreadsheet solution from Google, includes a spell-check feature that can help you detect and rectify spelling issues in your data.

This blog post will look at how to use Google Sheets’ spell check feature, including how to tweak the settings and troubleshoot typical issues.

This function can save you time and enhance the accuracy of your data, whether you’re working on a personal budget, a business plan, or a school project.

So, let’s get started and learn how to use spell check in Google Sheets!

What is spell-check in Google Sheets?

Spell check in Google Sheets is a feature that allows users to check for and correct document spelling errors automatically. It is designed to help users improve the accuracy and professionalism of their work.

A spell check is an essential tool for any document creation, whether personal or professional. It helps to ensure that documents are free of spelling errors. Document errors make them appear unprofessional and may lead to confusion or misinterpretation.

Where is Spell Check in Google Sheets?

You can find the Spell Check in Google Sheets under the “Tools” menu. To access it, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Google Sheets document that you want to check for spelling errors.
  2. Click on the “Tools” menu located in the top menu bar.
  3. From the drop-down menu, select “Spelling > Spell Check.“

These steps will activate the spell checker and run through the entire document, highlighting any spelling errors.

How to check spelling errors in a range of cells in Google Sheets

  • Select the Cell Range: To check for spelling errors in a specific range of cells in Google Sheets, you must first select the cells in question.
  • Activate the spell-Checker: Go to the “Tools” menu in the top menu bar and select “Spelling > Spell Check.” This will run the spell checker through all the selected cells and highlight any spelling errors.

Using Spell Check Shortcut to Fix Errors in Google Sheets

The keyboard shortcut for Spell Check is F7. Select the cells or sheets you wish to check for spelling errors and press the F7 key to run the spell checker through all the selected cells.

This option is for you if you love using the keyboard to complete tasks.

If pressing F7 doesn’t work for you, it means that the compatible spreadsheet shortcuts are disabled. You may need to follow the instructions to activate the spell-check shortcut and many others in Google Sheets.

  1. Open your Google Sheets document.
  2. Click on the “Help” menu.
  3. Select “Keyboard shortcuts” from the drop-down list.
Activate Keyboard shortcuts in Google sheets
  • At the bottom of the window, turn on “Enable compatible spreadsheet shortcuts.”
  • Close the window to apply the changes.

Understanding Spell-Check Options in Google Sheets

Spell Check options in Google sheets

The spell-check feature includes several options that you can use to manage and customize the spell-check process to fix errors. Some of these options include:

Change

The “Change” option allows you to replace the flagged word with a suggested correction or a word of your own choosing.

Ignore

The “Ignore” option tells the spell checker to ignore the flagged word and not flag it as misspelled again in the same document.

Both of the above options can be accessed by right-clicking on a flagged word and selecting it from the context menu.

Personalize Dictionary

The “Personalize Dictionary” option in spell check for Google Docs allows you to create and manage a custom dictionary. A custom dictionary is a list of words you add to the spell checker’s dictionary. Once you add a word to the custom dictionary, the spell checker will no longer flag it as misspelled.

This feature is useful when you come across words that the spell checker does not recognize but you know are correctly spelled.

The Personalize Dictionary option in Google Docs allows you to:

  • View the words that you’ve added to your custom dictionary.
  • Edit and delete words from your custom dictionary.

To access the Personalize Dictionary option, you can go to “Tools” > “Spelling” > “Personalize Dictionary” in the menu bar. From there, you can manage your custom dictionary and add new words to it.

It’s worth noting that a personalized dictionary is a personal feature, meaning that it will only affect your account and not the other users who have access to the same document.

How to spell-check in an entire worksheet in Google Sheets

  • Select the entire worksheet: To check for spelling errors in an entire worksheet in Google Sheets, you must first select the worksheet in question. There are several ways to select an entire worksheet in Google Sheets. The easiest of them all is using the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+A): Press and hold the “Ctrl” key (or “Command” key on a Mac) and then press the “A” key. This will select all the cells in the worksheet.
  • Activate the Cpell Checker: Go to the “Tools” menu in the top menu bar and select “Spelling > Spell Check.” This will run the spell checker through all the selected cells and highlight any spelling errors.

Note: to spell check in multiple worksheets, go to each of the sheets you wish to spell check and press Ctrl+A to select all cells in each worksheet before activating the spell checker.

Also, you can spell-check through all the available worksheets in the document. To do so, simply spell-check one entire worksheet, and you’ll see a popup that says, “No spelling suggestions”. In this popup, select the option that says “Search all sheets” to scan through all the sheets in the Google Sheets document.

Spell Check all worksheets in Google sheets

Using Spell Check Extensions or Addons in Google Sheets to fix Errors.

There are several spell-check extensions available for Google Sheets that you can use to enhance the built-in spell-check feature. These extensions can be found in the Google Workspace Marketplace and can be installed directly in your Google Sheets.

Below are a few spell-checker add-ons available in Google Sheets.

  1. Grammar and Spell Checker from LanguageTool: This extension provides advanced spell checking for over ten languages, including English, German, French, Dutch, Spanish, Russian, and several other languages.
  2. Outwrite (previously GradeProof): This extension provides advanced spell checking, including suggestions for correctly spelled words and the ability to add words to a custom dictionary.
  3. Sapling Grammar Checker and Writing Assistant: Sapling is an extension for Google Docs that offers advanced grammar and style suggestions to enhance your writing. It uses natural language processing technology to analyze your document and provide suggestions on spelling errors, grammar, punctuation, style, and tone.

To install a spell checker extension, go to the “Extensions” menu in Google Sheets, select “Add-ons > Get add-ons,” and search for the extension.

Note: When conducting the search, search for a grammar checker rather than a spell checker. All the tools designed for grammar assessment also encompass the functionality of spell-checking.

Once installed, you will have to configure the settings and start using it.

It’s worth noting that not all the extensions are free to use, some of them may require a subscription or a one-time purchase. And make sure to read the permissions and reviews before installing any extension in your Google Sheets.

FAQs on Spell check in Google SheetsTop of Form

Why is Spell Check Not Working in Google Sheets?

There could be several reasons why the spell-check feature in Google Sheets is not working. Some possible causes may include the following:

  1. The spell-check feature has been turned off: This feature is not automatic, and you must activate it manually. Thus, to activate spell check, simply go to the “Tools” menu in the top menu bar and select “Spelling > Spell Check.” Alternatively, press the F7 key.
  2. The selected language is incorrect: If the language of the document is set incorrectly, the spell checker may not recognize certain words. You can change the language through “File” > “Settings”, under the general tab and change the Display language to the correct one.
  3. The document is protected: Spell check will not work if the document is protected. If that’s the case, you need to edit the protection settings and allow editing before checking the spelling.
  4. The extension you installed has malfunctioned: If you installed an extension to improve the spell check feature, it could be that the extension malfunctioned and it’s not working. You may need to remove and install it again.
  5. The range of cells selected is not the entire worksheet: If you selected a specific range of cells, spell check would only work on that selected range and not the entire sheet. Make sure to select the entire sheet before checking the spelling.
  6. The document is too big: If your document has many cells or sheets, it may take longer to run the spell check, or it may not work at all.

It’s worth checking these possible causes before seeking further assistance. But if the problem persists, you may want to seek help from the Google Sheets community or the developer of the extension.

Does Google Sheets Auto Correct Spelling errors?

No, Google Sheets doesn’t have an auto-correct feature that automatically corrects certain errors as you type. This includes capitalization errors, incorrect punctuation, and commonly misspelled words. To catch these errors, you must scan the worksheet manually with the inbuilt Google Sheets spell check or an extension.

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