Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Creating a Table Using the Keyboard.

Creating a Table Using the Keyboard

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 12, 2023)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365

If you want a quick way to create a table without taking your hands off the keyboard, try this:

At the left margin of a new line, type four plus signs separated by a space (plus, space, plus, space, plus, space, plus) and press Enter.

That's it. A single step, and you have a quick and simple table. Of course, it is only a single-row table, but it is a starting point for your table. You can also create the table by using the vertical bar (alt+124) instead of plus signs.

If you want the columns of your table to be wider, simply separate the plus signs or vertical bars with dashes. For instance, you could type a plus sign, ten dashes, another plus sign, and press Enter, and you would have a table with a wider column.

If this tip does not work on your system, you may have the feature turned off. To make sure the feature is enabled, follow these steps:

Display the Word Options dialog box. (In Word 2007 click the Office button and then click Word Options. In Word 2010 or a later version display the File tab of the ribbon and then click Options.)
Click Proofing at the left side of the dialog box, and then click AutoCorrect Options. Word displays the AutoCorrect dialog box.
Make sure the AutoFormat As You Type tab is displayed. (See Figure 1.)

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

Make sure the Tables check box is checked.
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 (6046) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Creating a Table Using the Keyboard.

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 one less than 9?

2019-02-22 09:57:23

Jens Bjørneboe

Actually 2 plus signs with space(s) or tab(s) between will do a single column table. Add to the number of columns by adding the number of plus signs, with according space in between.

2019-02-17 15:54:05

Allan

Correction. I was doing 4 +s and 4 spaces. I should have been doing 4 +s and 3 spaces. Sorry.

2019-02-16 14:28:48

Allan

Table shortcut sound great. Only problem, it doesn't work with my Word 2007.
I have checked and double checked that the Table option is checked.
Thoughts?

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