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I have Microsoft Outlook for mac Version 16.109.1 and I have not found a way for it to add correct spelling of my name to dictionary

TJ 0 Reputation points
2026-05-21T23:38:42.43+00:00

Every time I type out an email and end it with my name, my name has the dreaded red underscore indicating a misspelled word.

In searching for a solution google (or AI) tells me to find the dictionary or custom dictionary and add my name. I go to SETTINGS and look for spelling & typing. I do not have a dictionary or custom dictionary listed as options.

What am I missing?

Thanks!

[PII: Removed] (with red underline)

Outlook | MacOS | New Outlook for Mac | For home
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  1. Alice-N 10,030 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-05-22T04:41:10.9166667+00:00

    Please note that our forum is a public platform, and we will modify your question to hide your personal information in the description. Kindly ensure that you hide any personal or organizational information the next time you post an error or other details to protect personal data.  

    Hi TJ

    I understand you’re experiencing an issue in New Outlook for Mac where you can’t add your name to the dictionary—so it remains underlined as misspelled. I’m happy to help. please reply with:

    • After you use Learn Spelling in TextEdit/Notes, does the underline go away there, but remain only in Outlook?
    • What macOS version are you on, and what language is selected under Edit > Language > Language in the Outlook message body?

    Please also follow these steps:

    • Add your name to the macOS system dictionary
      • Open TextEdit (or Notes) and type your name exactly as you want it recognized.
      • If it’s underlined, Control-click the word and select Learn Spelling.
      • Quit Outlook completely (Outlook > Quit Outlook), reopen it, and test again in a brand-new email draft.
    • Make sure Outlook is checking the correct language

    If the proofing language is wrong, proper names can stay flagged.

    A. Confirm macOS languages

    • Go to System Settings/Preferences > Language & Region.
    • Ensure the language(s) you write in are included under Preferred languages.

    B. Enable “Detect language automatically” in Outlook

    • Open a new email draft in Outlook.
    • Click inside the message body.
    • Go to Edit > Language > Language.
    • Select Detect language automatically > OK.

    Outlook will remember this setting for future messages.

    • If “Learn Spelling” still isn’t honored: switch to Legacy Outlook temporarily

    In Outlook’s top menu bar, select Help > Revert to Legacy Outlook.

    Please tell me how it goes. If the problem persists, please don’t hesitate to reply to this thread and I will be happy to help. Have a lovely day!  

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  2. AI answer

    2026-05-21T23:38:53.2533333+00:00

    In Outlook for Mac, the spelling dictionary is shared with the rest of Office and is managed through Word’s proofing settings, not directly in Outlook’s Settings.

    To add the correct spelling of the name so it stops being flagged:

    1. Open Word for Mac.
    2. On the Word menu, select Preferences.
    3. Under Authoring and Proofing Tools, select Spelling & Grammar.
    4. Make sure Suggest from main dictionary only is cleared so custom dictionaries are used.
    5. Either:
      • Use the document editor: type the name in a Word document, Control‑click it, and choose Add to Dictionary (this adds it to the default custom dictionary), or
      • Use the custom dictionary dialog:
        1. Select Dictionaries.
        2. Select the default custom dictionary (for example, CUSTOM.DIC) and choose Edit.
        3. When the dictionary opens as a document, add the name on its own line.
        4. Save and close the dictionary document.

    Because custom dictionaries are shared across Office, Outlook for Mac will then stop underlining the name as misspelled.

    If spell check still behaves unexpectedly in Word or Outlook, select all text in a sample message or document and verify the correct language is applied via Tools > Language in Word, then test again.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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