Spell Checking Your Worksheet

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated October 9, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003

Excel provides a built-in spelling checker you can use to proof (double-check) your worksheets. This tool works in much the same way as the spelling checker does in other Office applications. To run the spelling checker, follow these steps:

  1. Select the worksheet or worksheets that you want to be included in the spelling check.
  2. Choose Spelling from the Tools menu, or press F7. Word begins to check the spelling of your worksheet, displaying the Spelling dialog box as it discovers potential errors.
  3. Respond to the spelling suggestions as appropriate.

You don't have to spell check an entire worksheet; you can run the spelling checker on a range of cells, as well. To run the spelling checker on a range, do the following:

  1. Select the cells you want to be checked.
  2. Choose Spelling from the Tools menu, or press F7.
  3. Respond to the spelling suggestions as appropriate.

When the spelling check of the selection is complete, Excel displays a dialog box asking if you want to have the rest of your worksheet checked. Click on No to end the spelling check.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2007) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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