Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Special Characters in Fields.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 28, 2024)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
When you are using fields in your documents, you may have a need to include the quote mark and the backslash in the field definition. Unfortunately, these characters have special meaning, and may not be interpreted the way you intend. Consider, for example, the following field:
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here:
{ QUOTE "You should use "Y" or "N" in your response" }
When you use this, you get exactly what you expect: a full phrase (including quote marks) in the field result. Consider the following example, however:
{ FILLIN "You should use "Y" or "N" in your response" }
When this field result is displayed, you see an input box. However, the entire prompt does not appear. You only see the text "You should use " in the input box. Similar problems are manifested when you try to use backslashes with some fields.
To get around the problem, you need to get in the habit of using a backslash before any quote or backslash you want included in the field, as in the following:
{ FILLIN "You should use \"Y\" or \"N\" in your response" }
This approach informs Word that you want the quote marks (or backslashes, if you use \\) displayed as literal characters.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (545) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Special Characters in Fields.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 365 applications with VBA programming. Written in clear terms and understandable language, the book includes systematic tutorials and contains both intermediate and advanced content for experienced VB developers. Designed to be comprehensive, the book addresses not just one Office application, but the entire Office suite. Check out Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 365 today!
Updating form fields in Word can be confusing, especially when the fields are locked in a form. This tips explains why ...
Discover MoreWhen merging documents, you may want to include some fields in the merged documents. For some fields this is impossible, ...
Discover MorePeople don't normally think of using fields to do any calculations. Even so, you can use fields to perform a simple ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments