Find text and check spelling in Pages on Mac
Command-F opens Find in Pages. Command-G and Shift-Command-G move between matches while Find is open. Command-Semicolon checks spelling and grammar.
Pages · Reviewed 2026-11-05 · Review method
Platform, keyboard and verification notes
- Scope
- Pages · macOS app; Apple Mac documentation source checks on 4 November 2026 and editorial review on 5 November 2026. No running-app compatibility test is claimed.
- Keyboard and customization
- English-language Apple documentation. Modifier and punctuation keys may differ on other keyboard layouts.. Documented defaults, not a reading of your current menu. Check the app menu and custom App Shortcuts if a binding differs; focus and selected content can change its effect.
- Review basis
- Documentation reviewed 2026-11-05 by Codex — primary-documentation and editorial review; no hands-on runtime test. These bindings were not tested in a running app for this guide.
Keyboard shortcuts for this task
| Action | Keys | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Find text | Command-F | Opens the document’s Find interface. Source ↗ |
| Next match | Command-G | While the Find window is active. Source ↗ |
| Previous match | Shift-Command-G | While the Find window is active. Source ↗ |
| Hide Find | Escape | Closes the Find interface so you can return to the document. Source ↗ |
| Check spelling and grammar | Command-Semicolon (;) | Use during proofing; inspect suggestions in context. Source ↗ |
| Spelling and Grammar window | Shift-Command-Colon (:) | Opens the detailed proofing window documented by Apple. Source ↗ |
Use Find for a specific editorial question
If a report uses two spellings for a project name, search for the less preferred spelling and inspect each occurrence. A matching word is only a location to review, not automatic proof that the passage is wrong. Names, quoted material and technical terms may need different treatment. Decide what you want to correct before reaching for replacement controls.
Keep search navigation separate from proofing
The next-match shortcuts are documented in the Find-window context. The spelling and grammar command serves a separate review purpose and may flag terms you intentionally used. Read the surrounding sentence before accepting a correction. A spellcheck result does not establish that a date, amount or factual claim is correct, so keep content review alongside mechanical proofing.
Review an intentionally imperfect sample
Write a short paragraph with a repeated fictional project name and a deliberate spelling mistake. Use Find to move between the project-name occurrences, then open the spelling and grammar review. Practice dismissing Find so you can return to editing. Finish by rereading the paragraph normally; the goal is to use search and proofing as aids, not to let either replace a final read for meaning.
Sources and corrections
- Keyboard shortcuts for Pages on Mac — Apple Support — checked 2026-11-04
Found a mismatch? Email pashaseenainc@gmail.com with your app version, macOS version, keyboard layout and the command. Please leave personal document names out.
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