Hi, I am using MS Office 365 (version 1704 build: 8067.2115 click-to-run).Under MS Word Options - Proofing - When correcting spelling and grammar in Word, the Writing Style option is grayed out (disabled).I don't know what has caused this. Efforts made: 1) Performed Quick Repair of MS Office. Issue not resolved. Do I have to perform an online repair? Mar 30, 2016 In Word, click the File tab and then click Options. In the Options window, select the Proofing tab. Enable both the “Check grammar with spelling” and “Show readability statistics” check boxes. Click OK when you’re finished. The process is similar in Outlook.
When you’re writing a document, knowing how “readable” it is can be quite useful. There are two common tests that score readability (aka how difficult it is to understand your writing). Microsoft Word can calculate your readability scores right within the program, and it’s super easy to set up.
- Type up your document in Word. Then click on the File menu > Options > Proofing tab.
- Under the “When correcting spelling and grammar in Word” heading, you’ll see a box that says “Show readability statistics.” Check this box, then exit out of your options and go back to your document.
- Now, run a standard spelling and grammar check just like you would any other time. You will then be able to see readability scores based on two tests: The first is the Flesch Reading Ease test, and the second is the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score.
- The higher the score on the Reading Ease test, the easier the document is thought to be to read. If your document is at least 60, it should be relatively easy to read, although you can aim for higher scores if increased readability is important to you.
- The grade level is equivalent to the reading level of students. An 8, for example, would mean that the material is appropriate for an 8th grader. If you hit somewhere between 7 and 8, it should be very readable for the majority of people.
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How to enable writing style assistance in Microsoft Word
To enable writing style guidance in Microsoft Word:
- Click File > Options.
- Click Proofing from the menu on the left.
- Use the options under “When correcting spelling and grammar in Word” to adjust grammar and style checks.
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Applies to All Windows 10 Versions
Microsoft Office has long included support for spellcheck and grammar assistance. In recent years, Microsoft has expanded the toolset with new writing style options to help you develop your written voice.
Many of these features are disabled by default. They’re individually customisable so you can use some writing style components while ignoring others. The capabilities apply when authoring Word documents and Outlook emails.
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To get started, launch Word or Outlook. You’ll need to be using Office 2019 or have an active Office 365 subscription. Click the “File” tab to get into the Backstage view. Click “Options” at the bottom of the left navigation menu.
In the Options popup window, click the Proofing page. We’re interested in the settings under the “When correcting spelling and grammar in Word” heading. The checkboxes allow you to toggle spellcheck, grammar and frequently confused words warnings.
The fifth checkbox, usually disabled, enables the optional “Readability Statistics” feature. Press F7 to open this popup, which provides information such as the average number of words per sentence and sentences per paragraph. There’s specialist statistics too, such as a Flesch Reading Ease score and the percentage of sentences which are passive. These metrics can be helpful when crafting writing for maximum readability.
Back in the Proofing options window, we’ll now turn our attention to the “Writing Style” dropdown menu. This controls which of Word’s writing style suggestions should be enabled. You can choose between “Grammar” and “Grammar & Refinements.” The latter enables extra default proofing checks for clarity and conciseness.
Either one of these presets can be customised by clicking the “Settings” button. Here, you’ll see a list of all the proofing options available within Office. Each one can be individually enabled or disabled.
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There’s too many checks to cover each one in detail here. It’s best to start with the default selection. You can then review the list to enable extra checks which help you improve. Alternatively, you can disable default checks which you find annoying or inaccurate.
The capabilities range from basic grammatical errors, such as missing capitalisation, to advanced – and subjective – writing style adjustments. These include checks for overuse of complex jargon and overt “wordiness.” At the other end of the writing spectrum, Office can also flag informal language and slang words which may lower the tone of your writing.
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Office ships with most of its grammatical error detection capabilities enabled. The more subjective writing style checks are turned off by default, to avoid frustrating users and creating a high volume of alerts.
For users who benefit from the toolset, it’s a versatile alternative to popular apps like Grammarly. You can get comprehensive writing style guidance without leaving Word, which will help you to stay focused on your writing.