I don't understand this: when I right click on the status bar I get a menu where I can check and uncheck the items that I want to be present on the status bar or not, such as word count, zoom & language &c.

I have "language" checked, as in this screenshot (it's "taal", it's the Dutch Office version):
http://fmlekens.home.xs4all.nl/nonce...usbaritems.jpg

But this is what my status bar looks like:
http://fmlekens.home.xs4all.nl/nonce/wordstatusbar.jpg
Word count, spell check, ins/or indicator ("invoegen" it's called), "record macro" -- and that's it. No language indicator or button.

How is this supposed to work?

Sometimes Word doesn't write the setting correctly to the registry. Try this: Restart Word and make sure that only one document is open. Right-click the status bar and display the language item. Immediately close and restart Word. Now does it work as expected?

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Yes, how silly of me. I could have sworn I already had closed and re-opened Word, but I must have been mistaken. Thank you.

Actually, you shouldn't have to restart Word, but sometimes that is what it takes.

Anyway, I'm glad you got it sorted.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

I tried your solution but the language still does not show for me. Any other ideas?

You may have to try a few times. The important thing is that only one document window is open, when you do this.

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Hi there, I'm having the same problem and have followed Stefan's instructions, checking and unchecking the 'Language' option and restarting Word several times, but this hasn't worked. Does anyone know what else I could try?

You could try deleting the Options and Data registry entries for Word, in case something is broken there. Note that you will lose any changes you have made to options in Word (you will have to change them back manually after you have restarted Word).

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Thanks very much – I'll do this and see how I go.