Changing the Language Setting for All Document Text

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated May 31, 2025)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Word in Microsoft 365

Sharon received a document that includes many tables in it. She selected the entire document using Ctrl+A and then changed the language setting for the document. However, this did not change the language setting for any of the text contained within the tables. Sharon wonders if there is a way to really change the language setting for all text in the document.

In doing some testing, we found that if you have a document that includes tables, when you press Ctrl+A and change the language setting, those paragraphs in the table are also affected, just like regular paragraphs. The only time that this did not occur is if the table was in a "non-body" portion of the document, such as a text box, a shape, header, footer, endnotes, or footnotes. In those instances, the text in those elements was not affected.

The only way to affect each of these areas is to use a macro. For instance, here is a simple macro that will go through each of the StoryRanges in the document and change the language for each paragraph:

Sub ChangeLanguage()
    Dim r As Range
    Dim p As Paragraph

    For Each r In ActiveDocument.StoryRanges
        For Each p In r.Paragraphs
            p.Range.LanguageID = wdEnglishUK
        Next p
    Next r
End Sub

The language setting, in this macro, is set to UK English. If you would like it set to a different language—and there are scores of them—you can use one of the enumerations listed on this page:

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/VBA/Word-VBA/articles/wdlanguageid-enumeration-word

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the WordTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (5227) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Word in Microsoft 365.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

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