Instructions for Student Writing Support Tools for Spelling and Grammar Check

Students can use the following tools for spelling and grammar check on their Chromebook and Google Docs.

Table of Contents

1. Google Docs: Spelling & Grammar Check

Google Docs now includes an “Enhanced” grammar checker that identifies not only typos but also context-based errors (e.g., there vs. their).

  • How to Check Spelling and Grammar:
    1. Click Tools.
    2. Hover mouse over Spelling and grammar.
    3. Make sure Show spelling suggestions and Show grammar suggestions are checked .
    4. Select Spelling and grammar check to check the document.
    5. Look at the spelling and grammar suggestions in the box on the right.
    6. Choose to Accept or Ignore the suggestions.
    7. Use the Arrows to navigate through all the suggestions and repeat Steps 5, 6, & 7 until finished.
  • How to Enable – “As You Type” Spelling & Grammar Check:
    1. Click Tools.
    2. Select Preferences.
    3. Ensure the following are checked :
      • “Automatically capitalize words”
      • “Automatically correct spelling”
      • “Show Smart Compose suggestions”
      • “Show Smart Reply suggestions”
  • Student Use: Students will see blue underlines for grammar and red underlines for spelling. They can click the word or press Tab to accept the suggestion.
Google Docs - enable spellgrammar 0102
Google Docs - enable spellgrammar 0102
Google Docs - enable spellgrammar 0304

2. Chromebook: Native Spell Check

For students typing in other web-based platforms (like Canvas, Google Forms, or online assessments), Chromebooks have a built-in spell checker.

How to Enable:

  1. At the bottom right, select the time. Select Settings.
  2. In the left sidebar, select Device.
  3. Select Keyboard and inputs.
  4. Scroll down the page and select Input settings.
  5. Scroll down the page and make sure Spelling and grammar check is toggled ON .
At the bottom right, select the time. Select Settings.
In the left sidebar, select Device.
Select Keyboard and inputs.
Select Keyboard and inputs.
Scroll down the page and make sure Spelling and grammar check is toggled ON.

3. Voice-to-Text (Dictation)

For students with dysgraphia or fine motor needs:

  • In Google Docs:
    1. Click on Tools.
    2. Select Voice typing.
    3. Click the microphone icon in the little pop-up window and then start speaking.
  • System-wide (Chromebooks):
    1. Press Search + d or enable “Dictation” in the Accessibility settings menu on the bottom right of the taskbar.
    2. If this is the first time you are doing this, click Continue in the Turn on Dictation? Box.
    3. Press Search + d or click the microphone icon in the bottom right.
Google Docs - Click on Tools. Select Voice typing. Click the microphone icon in the little pop-up window and then start speaking.
Press Search + d or enable "Dictation" in the Accessibility settings menu