Checking your spelling before sending an email is a good way to ensure you are communicating clearly and professionally. Many Windows email programs have built-in spelling and grammar checking functions. Here is how to access it for various Windows email products.

Using Windows Spellcheck for Windows 8 and Later

Go to your PC Settings and search for Autocorrect misspelled words and Highlight misspelled words. When both of these are turned on, you see them function in many programs, including webmail and online forms.

Spelling and Grammar Review for Outlook 2013 and 2016

You can run the Spelling and Grammar command each time you want to check your writing in Outlook 2013 and Outlook 2016. Select Review and then Spelling and Grammar. Look for the icon with ABC over a checkmark. Right-click on it and select Add to Quick Access Toolbar if you want to keep it handy.

You can also set the option to run every time before you send a message.

  • Select File > Options > Mail.
  • Under Compose messages, check the Always check spelling before sending box.
  • You may also want to check or uncheck the Ignore original message text in reply or forward so it won’t flag spelling and grammar in those cases. If you select this automatic function, it will run when you select Send for each message.

Spelling Check in Windows 10 Mail App

To check the spelling when you are composing an email message in the Windows Mail application, select Options in Mail and click on the Spelling option. This runs the spell check, and it highlights any words that may need to be corrected, with suggested corrections. When you respond to the prompts, the spellchecker is done, and it shows a message that the check is complete.

Select File > Options > Mail.

Under Compose messages, check the Always check spelling before sending box.

You may also want to check or uncheck the Ignore original message text in reply or forward so it won’t flag spelling and grammar in those cases. If you select this automatic function, it will run when you select Send for each message.

There is no menu item to run the spell check automatically for each message. However, if you have Windows Spellcheck enabled, you may see other misspelled words underlined in red. You can right-click on them to see suggested corrections or go to Options and run the Spelling option.

Spellcheck for Microsoft 365 Outlook and Outlook.com

There is no built-in spellcheck for Microsoft 365 Outlook and Outlook.com. They can use the spellcheck function of your web browser. If your browser doesn’t have a built-in spellchecker, search for an add-on one. Search for the name of your browser, such as “Firefox,” and “spelling checker add-on.”

Check the Spelling of Your Emails Automatically in Windows Live Mail or Outlook Express

You may still be using discontinued email products for Windows such as Windows Live Mail and Outlook Express. To have these programs check the spelling of every email you write automatically:

  • Select Tools > Options from the menu. In Windows Live Mail, hold down the Alt key if the menu bar is not visible.
  • Go to the Spelling tab.
  • Make sure Always check spelling before sending is checked.
  • Click OK.

Select Tools > Options from the menu. In Windows Live Mail, hold down the Alt key if the menu bar is not visible.

Go to the Spelling tab.

Make sure Always check spelling before sending is checked.

Click OK.

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