How to Edit AutoCorrect Settings in Microsoft Word

Microsoft introduced the AutoCorrect feature to correct typos, misspelled words, and grammatical errors. You can also use the AutoCorrect tool to insert symbols, auto-text, and several other forms of text. AutoCorrect is set up by default with a list of typical misspellings and symbols, but you can modify the list that AutoCorrect uses and customize it to boost your productivity.

Today we'll teach you how to edit the AutoCorrect list and settings to make your word processing experience more fluid. Instructions apply to Word 2003 and later.

What the Tool Can Do

Before we move on to the actual customization and editing of the AutoCorrect tool, you will need to understand how the AutoCorrect list works. There are three main things you can use the AutoCorrect tool to do.

• Corrections

Firstly the tool will automatically detect and correct typos and spelling errors. If, for example, you type "taht," the AutoCorrect tool will automatically fix it and replace it with "that." If will also fix typos like "I like tha tcar." the AutoCorrect tool will also replace it with "I like that car."

• Symbol Insertion

Symbols are a great feature included in Microsoft products. The easiest example of how the AutoCorrect tool can be used to easily insert symbols is the Copyright symbol. Simply type "(c)" and press the space-bar. You will notice that it is automatically changed to "©." If the AutoCorrect list doesn't contain the symbols you want to insert, just add it using the tips outlined below.

• Insert Predefined Text

You can also use the AutoCorrect feature to quickly insert any text based on your predefined AutoCorrect settings. If you use certain phrases often it is useful to add custom entries to the AutoCorrect list. For example, you can create an entry that will automatically replace "eposs" with "electronic point of sale system."

Understanding the AutoCorrect Tool

When you open the AutoCorrect tool, you will see two lists of words. The pane on the left indicates all the words that will be replaced while the pane on the left is where all the corrections are listed. Note that this list will carry through to all other Microsoft programs that support this feature. 

You can add as many entries as you want to boost productivity. You can add things like symbols, words, addresses, sentences, and even complete paragraphs and documents.

Word 2003

The AutoCorrect tool in Word 2003 is great for error correction and with the right customization you can boost your word processing efficiency. In order to access and edit the AutoCorrect list, follow these steps.

1. Click on Tools
2. Select AutoCorrect Options to open the AutoCorrect Options dialog box
3. From this dialog box, you can edit the following options by ticking the check-boxes.
   1. Show AutoCorrect Options buttons
   2. Correct two initial capitals
   3. Capitalize the first letter of the sentence
   4. Capitalize the first letter of table cells
   5. Capitalize names of days
   6. Correct accidental usage of Caps Lock key
4. You can also edit the AutoCorrect list by entering your desired corrections in the Replace and With text fields under the list shown above. Replace indicates the text to be replaced and With indicates the text that it will be replaced with. When you are done, just click on Add to add it to the list.
5. Click on OK when you are done to implement the changes.

Word 2007

The AutoCorrect tool in Word 2007 is great for error correction and with the right customization you can boost your word processing efficiency. In order to access and edit the AutoCorrect list, follow these steps.

1. Click the Office button on the top left of the window
2. Click on Word Options on the bottom of the left pane
3. Click on Proofing then on AutoCorrect Options to open the dialog box
4. Click on the AutoCorrect tab
5. From this dialog box, you can edit the following options by ticking the check-boxes.
   1. Show AutoCorrect Options buttons
   2. Correct two initial capitals
   3. Capitalize the first letter of the sentence
   4. Capitalize the first letter of table cells
   5. Capitalize names of days
   6. Correct accidental usage of Caps Lock key
6. You can also edit the AutoCorrect list by entering your desired corrections in the Replace and With text fields under the list shown above. Replace indicates the text to be replaced and With indicates the text that it will be replaced with. When you are done, just click on Add to add it to the list.
7. Click on OK when you are done to implement the changes.

Word 2013

The AutoCorrect tool in Word 2013 is great for error correction and with the right customization you can boost your word processing efficiency. In order to access and edit the AutoCorrect list, follow these steps.

1. Click the File tab on the top left of the window
2. Click on Options on the bottom of the left pane
3. Click on Proofing then on AutoCorrect Options to open the dialog box
4. Click on the AutoCorrect tab
5. From this dialog box, you can edit the following options by ticking the check-boxes.
   1. Show AutoCorrect Options buttons
   2. Correct two initial capitals
   3. Capitalize the first letter of the sentence
   4. Capitalize the first letter of table cells
   5. Capitalize names of days
   6. Correct accidental usage of Caps Lock key
6. You can also edit the AutoCorrect list by entering your desired corrections in the Replace and With text fields under the list shown above. Replace indicates the text to be replaced and With indicates the text that it will be replaced with. When you are done, just click on Add to add it to the list.
7. Click on OK when you are done to implement the changes.