Office 2010

Word - Take Control of Automatic Features

Most Automatic changes can be undone by immediately clicking the Backspace key

Examples

• AutoNumbering
• AutoBullets
• Dashes to Lines

You can also turn off the button on the toolbar by clicking it. Note that the number button is on in the image below. Click it to turn it off.

Read below for using Menu items to control automatic changes.

Auto Correct

Go to File, Options, Proofing, AutoCorrect Options and choose the AutoCorrect tab.

An item you may want to uncheck is Capitalize first letter of sentences.

You can add items to be automatically corrected here by typing in the Replace: and With: boxes.

Go to File, Options, Proofing, AutoCorrect Options and choose the Auto Format as You Type tab.

The items you may want to uncheck are Automatic bulleted lists and Automatic numbered lists.

If Border lines is on, when you type 3 or more dashes and hit enter, you will get a solid line. Click Backspace to get the 3 dashes. Or you can deselect Borders to not get that automatic change.
(More information on Automatic Lines)

In the situation below, AutoComplete can be more of a problem than a help.

 A teacher emailed -
Sometimes Word will complete a phrase for me in a way I don't want it to.  For example if I type "office," it will suggest "Office of Admissions."  If "office" is the last word before I hit enter, it will automatically fill it in as "Office of Admissions."

The solution:

• Go to File, Options, Proofing, AutoCorrect Options and choose the AutoCorrect tab.

• Uncheck Replace text as you type

More on Numbers & Bullets

You can control additional items in Numbering (Bullets) by clicking the down-arrow to the right of the number (bullets) button.

You can also use the Increase Indent and Decrease Indent buttons to change levels in Numbering or Bullets. (Example below)