I am using Word 2019 on Windows 10. I want Word to make typos but not change them. Both in my own writing and in graduate student papers I grade, it's evident when auto-correct has become auto-corrupt and used the wrong word to fix a typo. Since I use a lot of specialized vocabulary, I don't want Word to change what I type for me. In my doctoral dissertation, Word kept trying to change intertextuality into intersexuality. Not only would that be wrong but I don't even want to know what that means. I fixed that by adding intertextuality to the dictionary of any copy of Word I use. I have tried modifying auto-correct options but I'm still not seeing what I want, like alleged typos being underlined in red, not ignored and not changed. I know I can do spell-checking later, but I prefer to see the possible issue right away.





What I do want is for Word to mark what it considers misspelled and show words that it considers incorrect grammar without it changing anything. Sometimes I have a true typo or have left a word out. Granted. What I want is for auto-correct to highlight/underline what it considers typos but not change them. I want Word to show me what it considers bad grammar but not have Word do anything about it automatically. Is there a way to get auto-correct to not correct but to indicate what it thinks are problems? Thanks.


Duncan

AutoCORRECT does exactly what you are describing. Turn it off by going to File > Options > Proofing > Autocorrect options > Autocorrect tab. Uncheck all of the check boxes.

While you are there, you can also turn off and Autoformat as you type options.

Spelling and Grammar checking is separate to the autocorrect settings.

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Andrew Lockton
Chrysalis Design, Melbourne Australia

For more, see:

• Automated Boilerplate Using Microsoft Word
• AutoFormat and AutoCorrect (Tame AutoFormat) by Suzanne Barnhill, MVP
• Exploiting AutoCorrect by Suzanne Barnhill, MVP
• Mastering the Spelling Checker by Suzanne Barnhill, MVP