Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated October 12, 2019)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
To get the most out of Word's Building Blocks you will want to customize it to help with words and phrases that you use most. You can add Building Blocks in this manner:
Figure 1. The Create New Building Block dialog box.
Those four steps are the simplest way to create your Building Block. If you take a look at the Create New Building Block dialog box again, you'll notice that there are quite a few items you can change besides the name for the Building Block. For instance, you may want to change which gallery the Building Block is stored in and the category you want to use to classify it.
After working with Building Blocks for a while, you many need to change some of your entries. Fortunately, Word makes it really easy to change your Building Blocks. Follow the steps outlined for adding entries, and when you click on OK, you will be asked if you want to redefine the Building Block entry. Click on Yes and you will be able to use the new entry.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (8223) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Adding an AutoText Entry.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 365 applications with VBA programming. Written in clear terms and understandable language, the book includes systematic tutorials and contains both intermediate and advanced content for experienced VB developers. Designed to be comprehensive, the book addresses not just one Office application, but the entire Office suite. Check out Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 365 today!
At some point you may want to delete an AutoText entry you previously created. Here's the steps to follow.
Discover MoreBuilding blocks can be a great asset when putting together documents, as they make inserting standardized information ...
Discover MoreBuilding blocks are a great tool for inserting standard information in your documents. It is also possible, however, to ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu 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.
Comments