How to Add Grammarly to Word (Windows, Mac and Online)

If you've gone looking for a Grammarly button inside Word's add-ins menu, you're not alone. These days Grammarly works in Word through its desktop app, which checks your writing in Word and other apps at the same time. Here's how to set it up on Windows and Mac, and what to do when it doesn't appear.

How to add Grammarly to Word on Windows

1. Download Grammarly for Windows from Grammarly's website.
2. Double-click the downloaded file and follow the prompts.
3. Sign in to your Grammarly account.
4. Open Microsoft Word and start typing. Grammarly's suggestions appear alongside your document.

Grammarly's help centre explains that in Word, it shows a list of suggestions you can filter by category. In Outlook, PowerPoint, OneNote and Excel, suggestions appear one at a time on a small widget you can drag around.

How to add Grammarly to Word on a Mac

Install Grammarly for Mac in the same way, sign in, and open Word. On a Mac, you'll find Grammarly's controls in the menu bar at the top of the screen.

Using Grammarly in Word Online

If you write in Word in your browser, Grammarly says it works there too, as long as you install Grammarly for Windows or Mac and your computer runs Windows 10 or newer, or macOS 11 or newer. If you see a warning saying Grammarly can't be used in Word Online, it means the browser extension is active instead of the desktop app. Open a new tab, click the Grammarly icon and switch off Check text with browser extension, so the desktop app takes over.

How Grammarly works inside Word

Action	How
Accept a suggestion	Click the suggestion card
Learn why it's suggested	Click the three dots on the card
Dismiss a suggestion	Click the trash icon
See suggestions further down	Move your cursor to that part of the document

The catch: Grammarly only checks around where your cursor is

This surprises people with long documents. Grammarly's guide says that in Word it may show suggestions for the next 10 pages from your cursor position. If you've got a long report, you won't see suggestions for the final pages while your cursor is near the start. Move the cursor through the document in chunks to check it all, or paste sections into the Grammarly Editor for a full read-through.

Why Grammarly isn't showing in Word

• The desktop app isn't installed or signed in. The browser extension alone doesn't work in desktop Word.
• Your Office version isn't compatible. Grammarly suggests using the Grammarly Editor instead.
• You've blocked Word. Check Settings, then Block list, in the Grammarly app.
• Your operating system is too old for Word Online. You need Windows 10 or newer, or macOS 11 or newer.

Should you use Grammarly in Word or Word's own editor?

Word has its own spelling and grammar checker, and for quick internal documents it's fine. Grammarly is stronger on tone, clarity and wordiness, and it works the same across your email, browser and documents, so your writing gets consistent help in every app you use. For proposals, reports and anything client-facing, I'd use both: Word's checker for spelling, and Grammarly for clarity and tone.

Tips for using Grammarly well

• Don't accept every suggestion. Grammarly doesn't know your brand voice.
• Turn it off for documents full of technical terms or names.
• Read the final version out loud; it catches things no tool will.
• Use the category filter to fix spelling first, then clarity.

If you're writing a lot of business copy, my guide to keeping your brand voice in AI-assisted content is a useful companion, and my guide to commonly confused words covers the mistakes spellcheckers miss.

Checking a document from start to finish

1. Put your cursor at the very start of the document.
2. Work through Grammarly's list of suggestions for that section, using the category filter to tackle spelling first.
3. Move your cursor further down and repeat.
4. For the final check, read the whole thing once more yourself, start to finish.

It takes a little longer than one click, but it's how you make sure nothing slips through in a report or proposal that matters. If it feels slow, paste the document into the Grammarly Editor instead and work through it there in one go.

My verdict

To get Grammarly in Word, install the Grammarly desktop app for Windows or Mac and sign in; there's no separate add-in to hunt for. For Word Online, use the desktop app on Windows 10 or newer or macOS 11 or newer, not the browser extension. Remember Grammarly checks around your cursor, so move through long documents in sections.

Frequently asked questions

What if my version of Office doesn't work with Grammarly?

Grammarly suggests using the Grammarly Editor: paste or upload your document there to check it.

Do I need a separate Grammarly account for Word?

No. Sign in to the desktop app with your usual Grammarly account and it works in Word and other apps.

Is there a Grammarly add-in for Word?

Grammarly now works in Word through the Grammarly for Windows or Mac desktop app.

Does Grammarly work in Word on a Mac?

Yes. Install Grammarly for Mac, sign in and open Word.

Can I use Grammarly in Word Online?

Yes, with the Grammarly desktop app on Windows 10 or newer or macOS 11 or newer.

Why isn't Grammarly showing in Word?

Check the desktop app is installed and signed in, Word isn't on your Block list and your Office version is compatible.

Does Grammarly check my whole Word document?

It shows suggestions for the next 10 pages from your cursor. Move the cursor to check other sections.

Does Grammarly work in Outlook and PowerPoint?

Yes. The desktop app shows suggestions there on a draggable widget.