Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 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: Automatic Initial Capitals in Tables.
One of the standard elements of Word's AutoCorrect feature is the option to automatically capitalize the first word of a sentence. Generally we accept this feature, except when we are creating a list of words in a table. Then the automatic capitalization is annoying, to say the least.
Fortunately, Word 2002 and Word 2003 include an AutoCorrect option that allows you to specify how capitalization should occur in tables. Choose Tools | AutoCorrect Options to display the AutoCorrect dialog box. (See Figure 1.)
Figure 1. The AutoCorrect tab of the AutoCorrect dialog box.
Note that the dialog box contains an option named Capitalize First Letter of Table Cells. Clear this check box and you will no longer have any problem in making a list in a table. If you don't clear this check box, but do clear the one for the first letter of a sentence, you will still have automatic capitalization in a table.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1876) applies to Microsoft Word 2002 and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Automatic Initial Capitals in Tables.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 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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