Automatic Initial Capitals in Tables

One of the standard elements of Word's AutoCorrect feature is the option to automatically capitalize the first word of a sentence. Generally we accept this feature, except when we are creating a list of words in a table. Then the automatic capitalization is annoying, to say the least.

The last few versions of Word (2002, 2003, and 2007) include an AutoCorrect option that allows you to specify how capitalization should occur in tables. If you are using Word 2002 or Word 2003, choose Tools | AutoCorrect Options to display the AutoCorrect dialog box. You can display the proper dialog box in Word 2007 by clicking the Office button | Word Options | Proofing | AutoCorrect Options. (Click here to see a related figure.)

Regardless of your version of Word, note that the dialog box contains an option named Capitalize First Letter of Table Cells. Clear this check box and you will no longer have any problem in making a list in a table. If you don't clear this check box, but do clear the one for the first letter of a sentence, you will still have automatic capitalization in a table.