Set spelling preferences

Last updated on Jun 2, 2026

Learn how to configure spell-check options, including error types and dynamic spelling underline colors in Adobe InDesign.

Spelling preferences control which errors InDesign detects and how dynamic spelling displays them. These settings apply to all documents and affect both manual and dynamic spell-checking based on the assigned dictionary.

Select Edit > Preferences > Spelling (Windows) or InDesign > Preferences > Spelling (macOS).

Select the types of errors you want to detect:

  • Misspelled Words: Words not in the language dictionary.
  • Repeated Words: Consecutive duplicate words.
  • Uncapitalized Words: Words that appear in the dictionary only as capitalized.
  • Uncapitalized Sentences: Words following periods, exclamation points, or question marks.

Select Enable Dynamic Spelling to underline potential errors as you type.

Set underline colors for Misspelled Words, Repeated Words, Uncapitalized Words, and Uncapitalized Sentences.

Select OK.