How to customize the color of the spelling and grammar checker underlines in Microsoft Word

  • Article
  • Applies to:
    Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, Word 2010

Important

This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure to back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, see Windows registry information for advanced users.

Introduction

This article describes how to customize the color of the spelling and grammar checker underlines in Microsoft Word 2007 and later. These underlines indicate the following items:

  • Spelling errors
  • Grammar errors
  • Contextual spelling errors
  • Smart tags

More Information

Warning

Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

To change the color of the wavy underline that indicates spelling errors, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.

  2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Proofing Tools

  3. If the SpellingWavyUnderlineColor entry exists, go to step 6.

    If the SpellingWavyUnderlineColor entry does not exist, go to step 4.

  4. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.

  5. In the right pane, type SpellingWavyUnderlineColor. This is the name of the new entry.

  6. In the right pane, double-click SpellingWavyUnderlineColor.

  7. In the Edit DWORD Value dialog box, click Hexadecimal.

  8. In the Value data box, type the hexadecimal number that represents the color that you want to use, and then click OK.

  9. Repeat steps 3 to 8 to change the underline color for other proofing tools. Use the registry entry that corresponds to the underline color of the proofing tool that you want to change instead of the SpellingWavyUnderlineColor registry entry, as follows:

    • To change the color of the wavy underline that indicates grammar errors, use the GrammarWavyUnderlineColor registry entry.
    • To change the color of the wavy underline that indicates contextual spelling errors, use the ContextualSpellingWavyUnderlineColor registry entry.
    • To change the color of the dotted underline that indicates smart tags, use the SmartTagUnderlineColor registry entry.

  10. Exit Registry Editor, and then restart your computer.

The registry uses eight-digit hexadecimal values to define colors. The values for some common colors are indicated in the following table.

Color Red Green Blue Registry Value
White 255 255 255 00FFFFFF
Black 0 0 0 00000000
Red 255 0 0 00FF0000
Green 0 255 0 0000FF00
Blue 0 0 255 000000FF
Cyan 0 255 255 0000FFFF
Magenta 255 0 255 00FF00FF
Yellow 255 255 0 00FFFF00
Dark Gray 127 127 127 007F7F7F
Light Gray 191 191 191 00BFBFBF
Dark Red 127 0 0 007F0000
Dark Green 0 127 0 00007F00
Dark Blue 0 0 127 0000007F
Teal 0 127 127 00007F7F
Purple 127 0 127 007F007F
Tan 127 127 0 007F7F00