How to Check Spelling in Gmail

Spot errors in a variety of languages

By
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Writer
  • University of Vienna
A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
lifewire's editorial guidelines
Updated on June 29, 2022

What to Know

  • Select Compose to start new message > type message > select three dots in bottom-right for More Options.
  • Next: Select Check Spelling > mistakes highlighted in red > select misspelled word for list of alternatives.
  • Next: Select word from recommendations to replace > select Recheck to check text again.

This article explains how to use Spell Checker in Gmail, which works in English, Spanish, German, Italian, and many other languages.

How to Use the Gmail Spell Checker

Here's how to access and use Gmail's spell checker.

  1. Open Gmail and select Compose to start a new message.

    Gmail inbox screen with Compose highlighted

  2. Type out your message.

    A new Gmail message sample with misspellings

  3. Select More Options (three dots) from the bottom right.

    Gmail message with More Options icon (three dots) highlighted

  4. Select Check Spelling.

    Gmail message with "Check spelling" highlighted

  5. Immediately, spelling mistakes will appear highlighted in red.

    Gmail message with misspellings highlighted

    If your web browser supports spell check, you might also see some other indication of a spelling error, like a red squiggly line.

  6. Select any misspelled word to get a list of suggested alternatives. Alternatively, you can choose to ignore the misspelling.

    Gmail message with misspelled word alternatives highlighted

  7. Once you select a word from the list, Gmail automatically swaps it with your misspelled word.

  8. Select Recheck to check your work a second time.

    Gmail spell check options with Recheck highlighted

  9. Or, if you want to search for misspellings in another language, open the drop-down menu and pick one from the list.

    Gmail spell check settings with the down arrow (menu options icon) highlighted, showing other languages

About Gmail's Spell Checker

The spell checker is set to Auto by default, and it doesn't remember previously set languages. For example, you might pick French for one email, then open another one and find it's once again set to Auto. Also, keep in mind Gmail won't simultaneously spellcheck more than one language. You will need to run a check for each language individually.

Was this page helpful?