Spell Check (F7)
Press F7 in Word on both Windows and the Mac to start a spelling and grammar check; on a Mac laptop you may need Fn+F7.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run spelling & grammar check | F7 (or Fn+F7) | F7 | |
| Open thesaurus (synonyms) | ⌥⌘R | Shift+F7 |
Start a spell check
Press F7 in Microsoft Word to open the Editor (Windows) or Spelling & Grammar (Mac) pane. Word jumps to the first flagged word and offers corrections — press the suggestion or Ignore to move on. On most Mac laptops the function keys default to brightness/volume, so you may need Fn+F7.
Across the Office apps
F7 also launches the spell checker in Outlook and PowerPoint. Shift+F7 (Windows) / ⌥⌘R (Mac) opens the thesaurus for the selected word. Google Docs has no F7 shortcut — it checks spelling automatically and you open the tool from Tools › Spelling and grammar.
FAQ
What is the spell check shortcut in Word?
Press F7 on both Windows and Mac. On a Mac laptop use Fn+F7 if the function keys control brightness or volume.
Why does F7 do nothing on my Mac?
The physical function keys may be set to media controls. Hold Fn and press F7, or enable 'Use F1, F2 keys as standard function keys' in System Settings.
Is there a spell check shortcut in Google Docs?
No single key. Google Docs checks as you type; open Tools › Spelling and grammar › Spelling check to review manually.