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: Entering Tabs in a Table.
When you are entering text in a table, some of the keyboard keys don't function as they do when you are working in the body of your document. One of those keys is the Tab key. If you press Tab, the insertion point moves to the next cell in the table, or if you are at the end of the table, it creates a new row.
There may be times, however, when you want a tab character in the table's text. In order to insert a tab, you can use either of these methods:
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1087) 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: Entering Tabs in a Table.
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2016-12-05 21:03:56
Katheryn
My tab key quit working and won't create a now row.
2016-11-30 01:54:06
Nicki
Thank you! Previously I was creating a tab outside the table and cutting and pasting that tab into the table.
2016-09-02 04:52:25
chakravarthy
worked like a charm. thank you very much.
2016-06-10 11:50:59
Bill
This behavior seems backwards to me. Is there a way to reverse it so TAB always enters a tab character, and CTRL+TAB inserts a row?
2016-04-03 13:22:13
Harold
Using Word 2013:
>If< all other Word dialogs are closed, then the Ctrl-Tab does work, just like with old versions of Word.
>But<, if another dialog is open, such as "Find and Replace", then, yes, Ctrl-Tab will just cycle you between dialogs.
2015-12-08 09:14:06
Julie
Apologies, I hadn't read the comment from Nedeljko, posted 19 Sept 15.
OFFICE TAB is the reason Ctrl+Tab doesn't work in table cell. So, as the advice, I've turned off the option and now Ctrl+Tab works as it did before. I've still got Office Tab too, working well. :)
Many thanks, Nedeljko
2015-12-08 09:07:23
Unfortunately, Ctrl+tab switch programs/windows for me. I haven't assigned this combination to another shortcut. It's always worked until I got Word 2010.
I'd be very grateful of any advice. Thanks
2015-09-19 01:25:22
Nedeljko
Combination CTRL+TAB doesn't work if you using add-in OFFICE TAB. This shortcut is reserved for changing tabs with documents. Turn off that option in OFFICE TAB -> Options -> Option center...
2015-08-19 21:33:45
MD
Resolved: on my machine there needs to be a space between the last character and where you want the ctrl+tab tab
2015-08-19 21:25:26
MD
Ewald 17 Dec 2014, 21:07
CTRL-TAB only moves the paragraph left indent over. It doesn't insert a tab in the text.
1 agree
2015-02-07 02:48:49
JACOB
Thank you so much. It works! It works for MS Word 2010 too!
2014-12-17 21:07:20
Ewald
CTRL-TAB only moves the paragraph left indent over. It doesn't insert a tab in the text.
I am using Word 2013.
2014-11-14 16:36:56
Jacob
Thank you! Both work for Word 2007
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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: 
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