Changing AutoComplete Words

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated February 27, 2019)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


5

Steven was having a problem with AutoComplete. It seems that his company name changed, and that AutoComplete was still suggesting his old company name as he typed, rather than his new one. Based on how the AutoComplete feature works (see the previous tip), it can be safely assumed that the company names (old and new) must share at least the same first four letters.

To correct this situation, all you need to do is remember that AutoComplete works hand-in-hand with Word's AutoText feature. If you want to change the word being suggested by AutoComplete, all you need to do is change the entries stored in AutoText. Follow these steps:

  1. Choose AutoText from the Insert menu and then choose AutoText from the submenu. Alternately, you can choose AutoCorrect from the Tools menu and then click on the AutoText tab. Either way, Word displays the AutoText tab of the AutoCorrect dialog box. (See Figure 1.)
  2. Figure 1. The AutoText tab of the AutoCorrect dialog box.

  3. In the list of AutoText entries, locate and select the old company name. (If the old company name is not visible, then use the Look In drop-down list to specify different templates in which the AutoText entry could be located.)
  4. Click on Delete. The old company name is deleted.
  5. In the Enter AutoText Entries Here box, enter the new company name.
  6. Click on Add.
  7. Close the AutoCorrect dialog box.

If you want more than just the company name set up as an AutoText entry—for instance, you want to include a larger block of text, including things like a company slogan or address—then you will follow steps that a bit different. Follow these steps after you complete step 3, above.

  1. In your document, type the text you want to use in the AutoText entry. For instance, type the company name along with its slogan or address.
  2. Select the text.
  3. Press Alt+F3. Word displays the Create AutoText dialog box. (See Figure 2.)
  4. Figure 2. The Create AutoText dialog box.

  5. In the dialog box, enter the mnemonic you want used for this AutoText entry.
  6. Click on OK. The AutoText entry is completed.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1620) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

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. ...

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Comments

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What is 2 + 8?

2016-11-13 09:25:43

Guy

You don't need to manually configure word's auto complete settings... just try Lightkey - a free app that brings auto completion for office.

you can try it in http://www.lightkey.io
enjoy!


2016-06-06 18:03:18

PD

Notepad++ has a great feature that offers autocomplete suggestions based on prior usage of a word in the present composition.

Is there a way to do same with MS Word, with or without add-ins?

Thanks.


2016-01-17 15:33:25

ssp

I do not have an autotext tab!


2015-08-18 12:35:07

Anon

I think I've found it. Beforehand, type in and select the text you want to add to (or revise in) your autotext autocomplete entries. Then go to this: Insert menu>Text>QuickParts>Autotext. Once you're there, you'll see the list of autotext entries, and at the bottom of your screen, a button that says "Save selection to Autotext Gallery". Click on it, and the text you've selected will pop up as an autocomplete suggestion. If it's replacing a similar entry (same first string of text), it'll ask you if you want to replace it.


2015-08-18 12:27:24

Anon

This applies to and shows the GUI for Word 2003. But how does one do this for Word 2013? MS thankfully has restored the AutoComplete pop-up boxes in this version, but finding the list where the suggestions are stored, to modify it, seems impossible to me. Thanks.


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