To create a custom AutoCorrect entry in desktop Word for Windows, open File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options. On the AutoCorrect tab, type the mistake or short trigger in Replace, type its intended text in With, choose Add, and confirm the dialog. Then test the trigger in a document. Word for the web can use AutoCorrect but cannot add or remove entries from the list.
Add an entry in Word for Windows
- Open desktop Word and choose File > Options.
- Select Proofing, then choose AutoCorrect Options.
- On the AutoCorrect tab, make sure Replace text as you type is selected.
- In Replace, enter the typo or unique shorthand you plan to type, such as a common misspelling.
- In With, enter the correct word or short phrase. Check the spelling and capitalization before saving.
- Choose Add, then confirm the dialogs. Type the Replace text in a document and finish the word to check that the replacement occurs.
Choose a trigger that is unlikely to appear in normal writing. Replacing a common real word can create errors throughout your documents. You can add several misspellings that all expand to the same corrected text, but each needs its own entry.
AutoCorrect works best for short replacements; for longer or formatted content such as tables, logos or whole paragraphs, create a Quick Part in Word instead.
Change or remove an entry
Return to the AutoCorrect tab and find the trigger in the list. To change the replacement, select the entry, edit the With value, and choose Replace. To remove it, select the entry and choose Delete. Test again in a new line. If Word makes an unwanted correction while you type, Ctrl+Z can undo that immediate change; deleting the list entry stops future replacements for that trigger.
The list can apply to other Office programs that support AutoCorrect. A replacement added in Word may therefore appear while typing in another supported app. This is one reason to keep triggers specific and check an entry before adding it.
Mac and web differences
On a Mac, open Word > Preferences > AutoCorrect. On the AutoCorrect tab, use the plus button to add a Replace and With pair, then press Return. You can select an existing entry and use the minus button to remove it. The interface differs from Windows, but the replacement idea is the same.
Word for the web offers some AutoCorrect controls under Review and Editor, but Microsoft says its custom word list cannot be edited there. Open the file in the desktop app to add or delete a personal entry. Also, an entry created on one platform is not a promise that an identical personal list will appear on every device and account.
If the replacement does not happen
- Nothing changes: Check that Replace text as you type is enabled and that you clicked Add, rather than closing the dialog after typing the pair.
- A different word appears: Search the list for the trigger and correct or delete the existing entry.
- It works in one language but not another: Check the selected text’s proofing language and the entries for that language. See our AutoCorrect language guide.
- You need a long reusable passage: AutoCorrect suits short replacements. For longer or formatted text, consider Word’s AutoText or Quick Parts tools instead.
Do not confuse a custom replacement with adding a word to the spelling dictionary. A dictionary entry tells the spelling checker not to flag a word; AutoCorrect actively changes what you type. Review the changed text in important documents, especially names, abbreviations, and technical terms.
Sources
- Microsoft Support: Add or remove AutoCorrect entries
- Microsoft Support: AutoCorrect options
- Microsoft Support: Turn AutoCorrect on or off
Matt has been writing about Microsoft Windows and other Microsoft products since the days of Windows XP. He spends much of his time writing for sites like WindowBrain.com