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: Two-Line Headings in a TOC.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 30, 2021)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Nilda generates Tables of Contents all the time in Word. She uses the Mark Entry feature to mark what should go in each Table of Contents. There are times when she may have a section title that consists of two lines separated by a hard return. When she marks the title as a single TOC entry, it doesn't appear in the generated TOC, and Nilda wonders why this is the case.
The reason is intrinsic to how Word puts together its TOCs. While a TC field (used to mark TOC entries) can presumably include a paragraph break, Word ignores everything after that break when it composes the TOC from those fields.
The solution is to get rid of the paragraph break. You have two options. First, you could edit your TC field contents so that the paragraph break is not included in the field. Second, you could actually modify your document so that the two lines of your heading are separated by a soft return (Shift+Enter) instead of a hard return (Enter).
If you choose the second route, then when Word compiles the TOC it will include the entire heading as a single entity, automatically replacing the soft return with a space.
A good place to find some great ideas on TOCs in Word is at this page, created by Word MVP Suzanne Barnhill:
http://wordfaqs.mvps.org/TOCTips.htm
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (3809) 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: Two-Line Headings in a TOC.
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!
If you generate a table of contents for your document, there may be some unexpected surprises in the way the TOC appears. ...
Discover MoreInsert a table of contents in your document, and your page numbering may get thrown for a loop. If you want the page ...
Discover MoreWord, when creating a table of contents, should automatically make sure that the page numbers it shows correspond to the ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2023-04-17 06:19:12
V
Thank you, that was very useful.
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.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
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:
Comments