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: Controlling Automatic Indenting.

Controlling Automatic Indenting

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 12, 2019)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003

You've done it before—you are typing along, minding your own business, when you press the Tab key at the beginning of a paragraph and notice that everything in the paragraph is automatically indented. If you are like me, you probably scream a bit, and then delete the paragraph and continue typing.

What you have just experienced is the automatic indenting feature in Word. It simply means that Word assumes you want to indent the paragraph if you start it out by pressing the Tab key. So, it dutifully indents for you. If you don't like this feature and want Word to accept your tabs for exactly what they are (tabs), then you need to turn off the feature by following these steps:

Choose AutoCorrect Options from the Tools menu. Word displays the AutoCorrect dialog box.
Make sure the AutoFormat As You Type tab is selected. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The AutoFormat As You Type tab of the AutoCorrect dialog box.

Make sure the Set Left- and First-Indent with Tabs and Backspace option is cleared.
Click on OK.

Now any new tabs that you type are nothing but lowly tabs, and you are back in control of your backspaces.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1483) 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: Controlling Automatic Indenting.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

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What is three minus 2?

2021-06-10 09:05:42

Coco23

This doesn't work on Word . Trying to do an annotated bibliography and it is a NIGHTMARE.

2017-05-18 14:34:43

D.E. King

Does not work. Word 2007 continues to open new page with first line indented. I've tried every thick that I know to reset the default.

2016-05-17 22:35:55

darryl

can't get to auto correct, different "options" are not the one needed "Word Options"? HOW TO GET THERE windows 8

2016-01-10 21:41:06

Superloach

Cool!

2015-12-04 17:28:48

Greg Todd

Doesn't work for me! 12/4/2015

2015-03-02 08:56:58

R Jones

I found it works for new documents that are saved after this change is made in the options. it will not work on an existing document that is causing the trouble. The document would have to be recreated to get rid of the hassle.

Thanks!

2015-03-01 12:54:14

Richard Hutchins

Works great! Thanks!

2015-02-09 16:16:22

Rosemary Jones

2-9-15

Hi there

I tried this and it didnt work. Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

Rosemary

2014-07-26 03:30:12

Bob Williams

If this works I will be for ever grateful.

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