How to Spell Check on Mac (and Go Beyond It)

Your Mac already has a built-in spell checker — and it's better than most people realize. Here's how to use it, plus how to go further when plain spell check isn't enough.

How to spell check on a Mac

macOS checks spelling system-wide as you type. To control it in most apps, open the Edit menu and look under Spelling and Grammar:

• Check Document Now (⌘;) — flag misspellings in the current text.
• Check Spelling While Typing — underlines errors live; right-click a word for suggestions.
• Check Grammar With Spelling — adds basic grammar checks on top.

You can also right-click (or Control-click) any underlined word to pick a correction or add it to your dictionary. This works in Notes, Mail, Pages, and most native apps.

Where the built-in checker stops

macOS spell check catches typos, but it won't rephrase an awkward sentence, fix subtle grammar, adjust tone, or work consistently across every app and website. That's the gap.

A system-wide upgrade: WunderType

WunderType adds AI proofreading on top of the native checker. Select text in any app, press a shortcut, and it returns a corrected version — not just spelling, but grammar, clarity, and tone. For example:

their going too the store tommorow to by some grocerys

becomes:

They're going to the store tomorrow to buy some groceries.

It runs on OpenAI or a local model, so you can keep everything on your Mac if you prefer. And because it uses Custom Prompts, you can go beyond spelling — "Fix Grammar," "Make it Formal," or "Translate" — all with their own keyboard shortcuts.

Download WunderType from the Mac App Store for spell check that actually improves your writing, in every app.