
(In Word 2007 click the Office button and then click Word Options. If you don't like this feature and want Word to accept your tabs for exactly what they are (tabs), then you need to turn off the feature by following these steps: It simply means that Word assumes you want to indent the paragraph if you start it out by pressing the Tab key. What you have just experienced is the automatic indenting feature in Word. If you are like me, you probably scream a bit, and then delete the paragraph and continue typing. Other formatting choices such as hyperlinks or special symbols can still be added to Word documents as needed.ĭiscover more ways to save time editing and formatting your Word documents at /Word.You've done it before-you are typing along, minding your own business, when you press the Tab key at the beginning of a paragraph and notice that everything in the paragraph is automatically indented. Pick OK to finish.Īutomatic numbered and bulleted lists and outlines can still be created from the Home tab (Paragraph group) in the Ribbon. If you work with a lot of multi-level outlines and lists, you’ll want to keep the choice to Set left- and first-indent with tabs and backspaces found in the bottom section. Turn off choices in the 1st section as desired. You can still turn on the automatically numbered list any time you want them. I recommend you uncheck all of the options in the last two sections, including Automatic numbered lists. Choices include smart quotes (different open and close quotes), fractions, hyperlinks to websites and email addresses, and automatic numbering. Choose the AutoFormat As You Type tab (Word 365 screen shown) and uncheck any option that gets in the way of typing your text.Pick AutoCorrect Options from the Proofing category.To customize Word so that it works for you and not against you: Although some of these options can be helpful, turn them off if they get in the way of your work. You are a victim of AutoFormat As You Type, a common Word ailment. Have you ever tried to create your own numbered list or outline with letters and then watched the numbering or formatting change once you press for the next line? This is a huge annoyance if you want to build your own custom layout for an outline rather than working with the choices in Word.ĭo you type your email address or website into a document and then watch as it suddenly changes to blue underlined text (a hyperlink)? Do you ever enter fractions or quotes that automatically re-format?
HOW TO FIX SPACING IN WORD OUTLINES 2007 HOW TO
How to Stop Automatic Outlines & Numbered Lists You Don’t Want

As the name indicates, AutoCorrect automatically corrects the spelling of commonly misspelled words but also makes other changes, including capitalizing the first letter in a sentence, table cell, or line of text. Find out how to get back control of your documents by making a few easy changes to the options in Microsoft Word to stop annoying automation in this article or watch this video:ĭoes it seem like Word randomly changes the capitalization or spelling of text in a document? AutoCorrect is to blame. Does Microsoft Word automatically number a list of items even when you want a different look or format to a numbered list? How do you stop Word from automatically changing the text you enter into a document? Although the standard options in Word are designed to help make it easier to enter and format document text, some options can actually get in the way of creating documents.
