Add an editing or authoring language or set language preferences in Office

You can add a display language or an authoring language. A display language determines the language Office uses in the UI - ribbon, buttons, dialog boxes, etc. An authoring language influences text direction and layout for vertical, right-to-left, and mixed text. Authoring languages also include proofing tools such as dictionaries for spelling and grammar checking. (The preferred authoring language appears at the top of the list in bold. You can change this by choosing the language you want and selecting Set as Preferred.)

To add a display language:

Open an Office program, such as Word.

Select File > Options > Language.

Under Office display language, on the Set the Office Language Preferences, select Install additional display languages from Office.com.

Choose the desired language in the Add an authoring language dialog and then select Add. A browser page opens where you can download the installation file.

On the browser page, select Download and run the downloaded pack to complete installation.

The added language appears in the list of Office display languages.

To add an authoring language:

Open an Office program, such as Word.

Select File >Options >Language.

On the Set the Office Language Preferences, under Office authoring languages and proofing, select Add a Language....

Choose the desired language in the Add an authoring language dialog and then select Add. A browser page opens where you can download the installation file.

On the browser page, select Download and run the downloaded pack to complete installation.

The added language appears in the list of Office authoring languages.

If Proofing available appears next to the language name, you can obtain a language pack with proofing tools for your language. If Proofing not available is next to the language name, then proofing tools are not available for that language. If Proofing installed appears next to the language name, you're all set.

To go online and get the language pack you need, select the Proofing available link.