Spelling and Grammar Check constantly running

[Numes]

You know that "Pencil/Paper" icon on the bottom of the screen. That icon is
continuously running on some of the (bigger) documents I edit. I have turned
off all spelling and grammar checks, but that icon continues to run. While
it is running, it usually runs my CPU at 100% and it does not allow me to do
things in the document like move tabs, add tabs, change column widths, etc...

I have tried copying the whole document to a new one, that did not work.

I am out of ideas and it is maddening because it limits me to what I can do
in the document and it eats up all of my CPU.

 

[Numes]

Forgot to include: I am using Microsoft Word 2003 (11.8227.8202) SP3.

Also, one other note, when that icon is not running, the pencil turns into
an "X" in the side of the book. On other documents that means the spell
check is not running and I can function normally.

 

[Beth Melton]

If I recall correctly you need to turn off Smart Tags (Tools/AutoCorrect
Options/Smart Tags) as well. Additionally, you said you "turned off Spelling
and Grammar checks" does that mean you turned off "Check Spelling as you
Type" and "Check Grammar as you Type" in Tools/Options?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Melton
What is a Microsoft MVP? http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpfaqs

Guides for the Office 2007 Interface:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/HA102295841033.aspx

 

[Numes]

Thank you so much! Turning off the Smart Tags did the trick. I could also
turn back on Spell Check (BTW - Yes, I did turn off "spelling as you type")

It is a misnomer that the tooltip for that icon is "Spelling and Grammar
Check" if it also includes Smart Tags. In addition, if you right click on
that icon, it brings up the spelling and grammar options. It should also
have an option to go to this autocorrect page if that icon also indicates
that.

Thanks again!

 

[Beth Melton]

I'm glad to hear that worked for you.

I don't think they intended for SmartTags to be part of the Spelling and
Grammar checks. I suspect they tied into the same engine used to check
word/phrases for spelling/grammar since SmartTags essentially use the same
methods for flagging text and they ended up with an unexpected result. The
only reason I know about the SmartTags is because of the newsgroups and
digging to find an answer to an almost identical a few years ago. ;-)

In any event, it does appear that they changed this behavior in Word 2007. I
can turn on SmartTags and turn off the "Check spelling/grammar as you type"
and the icon does not display in the status bar.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Melton
What is a Microsoft MVP? http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpfaqs

Guides for the Office 2007 Interface:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/HA102295841033.aspx