Faq/General/116

If, when you type a word with a spelling mistake, it is not underlined by a red wave, here are the things to check by order. It can result from an issue with the general configuration or from the document formatting.

Remember that the language where the cursor is located is displayed in the status bar, bottom of the LibreOffice window:

The dictionary
A dictionary must be installed for your language. The installation is done by an extension as explained in the FAQ. You must close LibreOffice completely, including the quick starter, in order for the new dictionary to be taken into account. The default dictionary for your language should already be installed with factory settings.

Check that the dictionary is installed:
 * Go to the menu
 * Make sure that the feature is enabled (in the Options section bottom right of the dialog): must be checked (this option is also directly accessible in the Standard toolbar or with  or with ).
 * Click the button (top right of the dialog).
 * Spellcheck - Writing aids.png


 * In the Language drop-down box, select Your_language, which must be preceded by the checkmark (✓) icon.
 * If you don't see it, then the dictionary is not installed or not recognized by LibreOffice. Try to install it again. Just click the link.


 * In the Spelling module, a dictionary must be checked (by default Hunspell SpellChecker).
 * Spellcheck - Edit modules.png

The language global setting
Check that the default language is correctly set:
 * Got to the menu
 * In the section Default language for Documents, Western field, select Your_language in the drop-down list.
 * Note again the checkmark (✓) icon that should be visible.
 * Spellcheck - Languages.png

At paragraph level
In Writer, first check the Default Paragraph Style:
 * Display the Styles window with or the menu, in the Paragraph Styles list, right click the  then.
 * Spellcheck - Styles.png


 * Go to the tab and make sure the language is correct in the Language field (above the font preview). If you expand the drop-down list, again, a checkmark (✓) should be visible.
 * Spellcheck - Para style.png

In Calc, display the Styles window with or the menu, in the Cells Styles list, right click the  then  and check the language in the  tab.

In Impress or Draw, display the Styles window with or the menu, in the Drawing Styles list, right click the  then  and check the language in the  tab.

At character level
The previous configuration may still have no effect on the language displayed in the status bar. Meaning that another formatting layer remains.

In Writer, go to the menu and in the  tab, check the Language field.
 * Note that in Writer:
 * A character style may have been applied, with a different language setting, it will override the paragraph style setting. Thus, in the Styles panel, click the button and check the entry highlighted. If different from Default Character Style, then check the font properties of that character style.
 * A direct formatting may have been applied on top of that. Check the language displayed in the status bar, bottom of the Writer window. Click it and select.

In Calc, go to the menu and in the  tab, check the Language field.

In Impress or Draw, go to the menu and in the  tab, check the Language field.

Still no luck
Changing the default language to another one, then changing back to the desired language per following steps may help:
 * Go to the menu and in the section Default language for Documents, Western field, specify a different language than your language.
 * Confirm and close LibreOffice completely, including the quick starter.


 * Restart LibreOffice, open that same menu again and select Your_language.
 * Confirm and close LibreOffice completely, including the quick starter.
 * Restart LibreOffice and check if the language is correct.

Last chance
Try to reset your LibreOffice user profile to go back to factory settings. Rename it so that you can retrieve parts of your customization if needed.