What autocorrect entries do and how to set one up
Autocorrect in Microsoft Word automatically replaces text you type with text you choose. When you type a shorthand phrase or a commonly misspelled word, Word replaces it when ready with the correct version. You can create your own entries so Word fixes your personal spelling mistakes, expands abbreviations you use often, or inserts longer phrases with just a few keystrokes.
The most common use is fixing typos you make repeatedly — if you always type "teh" instead of "the", you can teach Word to fix it automatically. But you can also use it to expand abbreviations: type "mtg" and Word replaces it with "meeting", or type "addr" and it becomes your full mailing address.
Creating an entry takes about one minute and works the same way in Word on Windows, Mac, and the web version. Once you create it, the entry works in every document you open.
Key Takeaways
- Autocorrect entries replace text as you type, so "teh" becomes "the" the moment you press space or punctuation.
- You create entries in the Autocorrect dialog by typing the shorthand in one field and the replacement text in another, then clicking Add.
- The entry applies to all your Word documents automatically once you save it.
- You can delete an entry anytime by finding it in the Autocorrect dialog and clicking Delete.
- Autocorrect entries are separate from spell-check and work even if spell-check is turned off.
How to open the Autocorrect dialog in Word
The path to Autocorrect is slightly different depending on which version of Word you use, but the dialog itself looks the same.
On Windows: Open Word and go to File > Options. In the left sidebar, click Proofing. Then click Autocorrect Options. The Autocorrect dialog opens with several tabs at the top.
On Mac: Open Word and go to Word > Preferences. In the dialog that appears, find and click Proofing. Then click Autocorrect. The same dialog opens.
In Word online: Click File in the top left, then Options. Scroll down and click Proofing. Then click Autocorrect Options.
Once the dialog is open, make sure you are on the Autocorrect tab (it is usually the first one). You will see two text fields: one labeled Replace and one labeled With.
Creating your first autocorrect entry
In the Replace field, type the text you want Word to recognize. This is usually a misspelling, abbreviation, or short phrase. For example, type "teh" if you want to correct that common typo, or "mtg" if you want it to expand to "meeting".
In the With field, type what you want Word to replace it with. If you typed "teh" in Replace, type "the" in With. If you typed "mtg" in Replace, type "meeting" in With.
Click the Add button. Word adds the entry to the list below and clears both fields so you can create another one if you want. Click OK to close the dialog and save your changes.
The next time you type "teh" and press space, a period, or any punctuation mark, Word when ready replaces it with "the". You do not have to do anything — it happens automatically.
What to watch out for when creating entries
Autocorrect replaces text based on what you type before you press space or punctuation, so the replacement happens the moment you hit one of those keys. This is usually what you want, but it means you cannot undo it by pressing Ctrl+Z when ready — Word has already moved on to the next word.
If you create an entry that is too short or too common, it can replace text you did not intend to replace. For example, if you create an entry where "a" becomes "apple", Word will replace every instance of the letter "a" with "apple", which will break your writing. Use abbreviations that are unlikely to appear by accident: "mtg" is safer than "m", and "addr" is safer than "ad".
Autocorrect entries are case-sensitive by default. If you create an entry where "teh" becomes "the", it will only work when you type "teh" in lowercase. If you type "Teh" at the start of a sentence, Word will not replace it. You can change this by checking the box labeled "Correct TWo CApitals at start of sentence" or by creating separate entries for different cases.
Editing or deleting an autocorrect entry
If you want to change an entry you already created, open the Autocorrect dialog again (File > Options > Proofing > Autocorrect Options on Windows, or Word > Preferences > Proofing > Autocorrect on Mac).
Scroll through the list to find the entry you want to change. Click on it to select it. The Replace and With text will appear in the fields above. Edit either field, then click Replace instead of Add. Word updates the entry.
To delete an entry, find it in the list, click on it, and click the Delete button. Word removes it when ready. The next time you type that shorthand, Word will not replace it anymore.
Using autocorrect with special characters and symbols
Autocorrect can also replace text with symbols or special characters. For example, you can create an entry where "(c)" becomes "©" or where "..." becomes "…" (an ellipsis). This is useful if you type certain symbols often but they are not straightforward to find on your keyboard.
To do this, type the shorthand in the Replace field as usual. In the With field, type or paste the symbol you want. If you do not know how to type the symbol, you can copy it from another document or from a character map, then paste it into the With field. Click Add and the entry is created.
The next time you type the shorthand and press space or punctuation, the symbol appears in its place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off autocorrect for a single word?
Yes. The moment Word replaces a word, you can press Ctrl+Z to undo just that replacement. Word will not replace that word again in that document, but it will still replace it in future documents. To turn off the entry permanently, delete it from the Autocorrect dialog.
Will my autocorrect entries work in other Microsoft programs?
Autocorrect entries created in Word work in Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint as well. They are stored in the same place across all Microsoft Office programs, so you only have to create them once.
What if I accidentally create an entry I did not mean to?
Open the Autocorrect dialog, find the entry in the list, click it, and click Delete. It is removed when ready. If Word already replaced it in your document, press Ctrl+Z to undo the replacement.
Can I create an autocorrect entry that includes a line break?
In Word on Windows and Mac, you can include a line break in the With field by pressing Ctrl+Enter (Windows) or Command+Enter (Mac) instead of just Enter. This lets you create an entry that expands to multiple lines of text.
Do autocorrect entries work if I turn off spell-check?
Yes. Autocorrect and spell-check are separate features. Autocorrect entries replace text as you type regardless of whether spell-check is on or off. You can have autocorrect working while spell-check is disabled.