Using AutoComplete Tips

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated August 23, 2025)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


Word includes a nifty little feature called AutoComplete. This feature uses what Microsoft calls AutoComplete tips. These are used when you are typing AutoText phrases or even the names of months. As you type, Word will bring up a little yellow box above the incomplete word. If you then press F3 or the Tab key, Word automatically finishes the phrase. You may have noticed this if you ever typed in the name of a month, such as January.

To enable or disable the AutoComplete tips feature, follow these steps:

  1. Select AutoCorrect Options from the Tools menu. Word displays the AutoCorrect dialog box.
  2. Click your mouse on the AutoText tab. (See Figure 1.)
  3. Figure 1. The AutoText tab of the AutoCorrect dialog box.

  4. Depending on your version of Word, select either the Show AutoComplete Tip for AutoText and Dates option or the Show AutoComplete Suggestions option to enable this feature, or deselect the option if you no longer want it.
  5. Click on OK.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1750) 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. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Adding a Line Before a Table

Easily add a blank line before your already inserted table.

Discover More

Using Only Odd Page Numbers

Do you need to number the pages of your document using only odd page numbers? Word doesn't provide a way to do this, but ...

Discover More

Keyboard Shortcut for Comments

Adding comments or notes to the cells in your worksheets can help to document different aspects of that worksheet. Adding ...

Discover More

Do More in Less Time! An easy-to-understand guide to the more advanced features available in the Microsoft 365 version of Word. Enhance the quality of your documents and boost productivity in any field with this in-depth resource. Complete your Word-related tasks more efficiently as you unlock lesser-known tools and learn to quickly access the features you need. Check out Microsoft 365 Word For Professionals For Dummies today!

More WordTips (menu)

Creating a Quick Letter

Word provides a handy wizard that is helpful in creating basic letters quickly and easily. This tip discusses the Letter ...

Discover More

Understanding the Organizer

The Organizer is a great tool for, well, organizing the information stored in your templates. This tip introduces the ...

Discover More

Correcting Student Papers

If you are a teacher, you may be looking for ways you can use Word's features to correct papers your students send to you ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 5 - 4?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


This Site

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.

Videos
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.