How to spell-check a Word document online
Open your DOCX in a free online spell checker to fix spelling, grammar and punctuation, then download a clean Word file with formatting preserved. Try it now.
How to
Online-Spellcheck Blog
Practical articles about spelling, grammar, proofreading, and how to get your text right before anyone else reads it.
Featured
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Spell checker vs AI spell checker: which should you use?
Compare a rule-based spell checker with an AI spell checker. See what each catches, where they miss, and when to use which for better writing. Learn more.
Guides
How to
Step-by-step guides to checking spelling and grammar online: texts, Word documents, PDFs, scans, blog articles, and job applications.
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Features of an online spelling check program: what to look for
Learn which features of an online spelling check program matter: how it checks, which languages and documents it reads, and how it lets you decide on each fix.
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How to spell check a blog article, before or after you publish it
Copy your post into the Spell Checker, choose the language, and press Check spelling. Learn how to spell check a blog article, as a draft or once it is live.
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How to spell check scans and images
Learn how to spell check a scanned page, a photo of a text, or a scanned PDF: text recognition reads the image, and you correct the text it finds.
Writing tips
Practical writing tips: how to write clearly, proofread your own text, beat writer's block, and make every sentence easier to read.
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A proofreading checklist before you hit send
Use this proofreading checklist for emails, applications and documents. Check words, sentences, facts, format and final details before you send. Read it now.
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How to annotate books like a pro: 3 levels to try
Learn how to annotate books like a pro: why it helps you remember what you read, the supplies you need, and 3 levels, from sticky tabs to notes in the margins.
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5 powerful ChatGPT prompts for writing
Learn 5 ChatGPT prompts for writing: a formula for essays and poems, keywords such as rephrase and elaborate, style changes, proofreading, and role prompts.
Grammar
English grammar explained with examples: verbs and tenses, pronouns, clauses, agreement, and the rules people get wrong most often.
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Ten common grammar mistakes a grammar checker finds
Its vs it's, then vs than, a vs an, and more. See 10 common grammar mistakes a checker spots, with examples and fixes to improve your text. Read now.
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What is reported speech? Rules and examples
Reported speech tells what someone said without quoting them. Learn how pronouns, tenses, and time words change in statements, questions, and requests.
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Different than or different from: which is correct?
Different from and different than both compare two things. Learn when each is correct, why different from is the safe choice, and where different to fits.
Punctuation
Punctuation rules with examples: commas, colons, semicolons, hyphens, apostrophes, quotation marks, and capital letters.
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Dashes and hyphens: what is the difference?
A hyphen joins words; a dash separates parts of a sentence or marks a range. Learn the difference between dashes and hyphens, with examples of each.
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Plurals with apostrophes: is an apostrophe allowed to form a plural?
As a rule, an apostrophe never makes a plural, but there are exceptions. Learn when plurals with apostrophes are allowed: letters, abbreviations, and decades.
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The history of punctuation: how people began to use it
Early writing had no punctuation, no spaces, and no lowercase letters. Learn the history of punctuation, from the dots of old Alexandria to the modern comma.
Spelling and Word Choice
Spelling rules and easily confused words explained: its or it's, then or than, affect or effect, and the words most often misspelled.
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British vs American English: how to keep your spelling consistent
Colour vs color, organise vs organize, centre vs center. Learn key British and American spelling differences and keep one style in your text. Start reading.
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The 5 most commonly misused phrases and how to get them right
Pique or peak, toe or tow the line, peace or piece of mind? Learn the 5 most commonly misused phrases, what each one means, and how to use it correctly.
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Confusing verbs with nouns: affect, advise, and devise
Affect or effect, advise or advice, devise or device: learn which word in each pair is the verb and which is the noun, with examples and the -ise/-ice rule.
Creative Writing
Creative writing tips for stories, novels, poems, and journals: characters, dialogue, world building, and finding ideas to write about.
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Writing inspiration: unleash your creative potential
Stuck for a story idea? Find writing inspiration in the stories you love: list your favorites, pick the elements you like best, and remix them into your own.
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Stoic journaling: a path to clarity and self-discovery
Learn Stoic journaling: write for yourself, keep it simple, focus on what you can control, and start with 3 prompts inspired by the Stoic thinkers.
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How to write a novel in Google Docs
Learn how to write a novel in Google Docs: split your manuscript into chapters with headings, then build a workspace for outlines, characters, and research.
Writing at Work
Writing at work: business emails, letters, resumes, cover letters, reports, and copy that is clear, polite, and free of mistakes.
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5 tips for writing presentation slides
5 tips for writing presentation slides: an introduction and a conclusion, one idea per slide, short text, strong visuals, and notes for yourself.
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6 tips for writing a successful grant proposal
A grant proposal is easier to write when you know how. These 6 tips cover the guidelines, the action plan, a realistic budget, clear writing, and editing.
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How to write a complaint letter that gets results
Learn how to write a complaint letter that gets results: state what you want, give the details, attach copies, stay polite, and send it with proof of delivery.
English Language
The English language: its history, idioms, vocabulary, and slang, and tips for learning and teaching English as a second language.
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Teaching adjectives to ESL students: 4 fun activities
Teaching adjectives to ESL students is easier with 4 activities: describe pictures and people, guess a hidden object, and compare things to learn degrees.
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Self-learning tips for ESL students: 5 ways teachers can help
Self-learning tips for ESL students and their teachers: break goals into steps, share reading at the right level, use TED talks, and set up study groups.
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How to help ESL students overcome test anxiety
Test anxiety keeps even bright ESL students from doing their best. Learn 3 ways teachers can help: practice outside class, a clear test plan, and perspective.