Outlook 365 spell check uses incorrect proofing language for Subject

Topic

I have used Microsoft 365 for several years and have not noticed this problem until now.

I created a new message and included the word “colour” in the Subject and in the message body (ie the UK spelling).

In the Subject field the word was underlined in red and offered “color” (US Spelling) as a correction whilst in the body text, “colour” was fine.
I then checked my proofing settings and both  my Windows 11 and Office 365 were set to UK English. It appears that “Subject is using US English proofing.

Have I missed a setting somewhere? Or is this a known bug?

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 Core Ultra 7 155H 32GB Win 11 Pro 23H2 (22631.5335)
Dell Inspiron 15 7580 i7 16GB Win 11 pro 24H2 (26100.4061),
Microsoft 365 Version 2504 (18730.20122)
Location: UK

Replies

John wrote:

I then checked my proofing settings and both  my Windows 11 and Office 365 were set to UK English.

Not sure if you mean the Language settings or just proofing.  The following MS link may provide the info you need.  Note the two different windows for settings.

Set up or change the languages used to check spelling and grammar

HTH, Dana:))

Thanks Dana, only just spotted your response, sorry.

I have rechecked all my proofing settings using the page you suggested and they are set to UK English. However, proofing language for the ‘Title’ remains US English whilst for the message text it is UK English. I even used  “Review Language Set Proofing Language” route to change the proofing language for the Subject text to UK English and this is the result:

So I am at a loss.

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 Core Ultra 7 155H 32GB Win 11 Pro 23H2 (22631.5335)
Dell Inspiron 15 7580 i7 16GB Win 11 pro 24H2 (26100.4061),
Microsoft 365 Version 2504 (18730.20122)
Location: UK

When you post a screenshot be sure to mask or remove personal information (such as your email address).

Try this and see if it works:
In an email you are writing as in your screenshot place the cursor in the Subject box (Title) where you have Colour listed so the cursor is active in that Subject box. The cursor must be active in the Subject box.
Select Review > Set Proofing Language… to open the Language box
Scroll down the list and select English (United Kingdom)
Press Set as Default and press OK.

Close and restart Outlook.

HTH, Dana:))

Dana, thanks for pointing out my error – I’ve removed the email address now.

I followed your instructions and after the restart of Outlook, the word Colour is still underlined in red.

btw the inital setting under ‘Language’ was “Do not check spelling or Grammar’.

I toggled it off and it made no difference.

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 Core Ultra 7 155H 32GB Win 11 Pro 23H2 (22631.5335)
Dell Inspiron 15 7580 i7 16GB Win 11 pro 24H2 (26100.4061),
Microsoft 365 Version 2504 (18730.20122)
Location: UK

John wrote:

btw the inital setting under ‘Language’ was “Do not check spelling or Grammar’. I toggled it off and it made no difference.

That setting prevents using different language dictionaries and reverts to the American language and spell check dictionary. That setting and the Detect language automatically should both be unchecked and then select the English(United Kingdom) as the default and Restart.

HTH, Dana:))

Hi Dana, I tried that and still get the red underline under the word ‘Colour’.

Drawing board here I come.

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 Core Ultra 7 155H 32GB Win 11 Pro 23H2 (22631.5335)
Dell Inspiron 15 7580 i7 16GB Win 11 pro 24H2 (26100.4061),
Microsoft 365 Version 2504 (18730.20122)
Location: UK

Open Outlook
Go to File > Options
Select Language in left pane
Take a screen shot of that page of settings and post it here for me to see.

HTH, Dana:))

Dana, Here is the screen shot.

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 Core Ultra 7 155H 32GB Win 11 Pro 23H2 (22631.5335)
Dell Inspiron 15 7580 i7 16GB Win 11 pro 24H2 (26100.4061),
Microsoft 365 Version 2504 (18730.20122)
Location: UK

Thank You.
I have set up my system for English (United Kingdom) and I am able to reproduce the error you speak of. I have checked all the settings. The spell check dictionary used in the body of a message or document is English (United Kingdom) and colour and armour are not tagged as misspelled. However even if the settings are set to use English (United Kingdom) in the Subject box Outlook still uses the English (US) dictionary for spell checking text in the Subject box and thus tags colour and armour. It did not used to be this way and this is a glitch in Outlook (considering all the changes MS has been making to Outlook I’m not surprised ).

The only solution I have for you is to add colour, armour, and other such words to the dictionary so they won’t be tagged in the Subject box.

HTH, Dana:))

1 user thanked author for this post.

John

Thank you Dana,
Thought I was going mad at first, but it’s Office 365!
Does this happen with other non-subscription Office versions?

Anyway, it’s good that it is reproducible. I wonder if the Office development team would be interested?

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 Core Ultra 7 155H 32GB Win 11 Pro 23H2 (22631.5335)
Dell Inspiron 15 7580 i7 16GB Win 11 pro 24H2 (26100.4061),
Microsoft 365 Version 2504 (18730.20122)
Location: UK