Check spelling using Arabic strict spelling rules

You can check the spelling of Arabic by using strict spelling rules. To do this, you must be using the Arabic version of Microsoft Office or configure your Office programs to use the Arabic language, and then configure them to use the Arabic spelling rules that you want.

With the language pack for Arabic installed, you can choose from the following spelling rules:

Strict initial alef hamza   

Words starting with alef without hamza are flagged, and the correct form with alef and hamza is suggested.

Strict final yaa   

Words ending with alef maqsoora instead of yaa are flagged, and the correct form with yaa is suggested.

Strict taa marboota   

Words ending with haa instead of taa marboota are flagged, and the correct form with taa marboota is suggested.

In this article

Before you begin

Step 1: Configure Office programs to use the Arabic language

Step 2: Use Arabic Strict spelling rules

Before you begin

To check the spelling of Arabic text you must be using an Arabic version of Office or install the Office language pack for Arabic and configure your Office programs to use the Arabic language. For more information about language packs, see:

• Buy, install, configure, or uninstall a Microsoft Office language pack for Office 2013

• Language Accessory Pack for Office 2016

Step 1: Configure Office programs to edit the Arabic language

The following procedure assumes that you have already installed the appropriate language pack. If you have not done so, see:.

• Buy, install, configure, or uninstall a language pack for Office 2013

• Language Accessory Pack for Office 2016

To configure Office to edit the Arabic language

1. Open a file in an Office program, such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.

2. Click File > Options > Language.

3. If Arabic is not in the Editing Language list under Choose Editing Languages, click Add additional editing languages, select Arabic in the list, and then click Add.

4. Click Set as Default.

5. If you want to change the language that Office programs display by default in the program's controls or the language of Help, select languages under Choose Display and Help Languages.

6. If you selected a new language for either Display Language or Help Language, click Set as Default below each selection.

7. Restart all Office programs for your changes to take effect.

Note: If your computer is not properly configured for editing Arabic, Not enabled or Not installed may appear in the Keyboard Layout or Proofing columns. To learn more about these alerts, see Add a language or set language preferences in Office.

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Step 2: Use Arabic Strict spelling rules

The Arabic strict spelling modes are only available only if you are using the Arabic-language version of Office, or after you have installed and configured the language pack.

To configure spelling rules for Arabic in Office programs

1. Click the File tab.

2. Click Options, and then click Proofing.

   Outlook does not give you access to the settings in Proofing. Use another Office program instead, like Word, when changing spelling rules for Office programs.

3. Select or clear the check boxes for the following options:

   • Arabic: Strict initial alef hamza (not selected by default)

   • Arabic: Strict final yaa (selected by default)

   • Arabic: Strict taa marboota (selected by default)

4. Click OK.