Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. 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: Adding an AutoText Entry.
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.
Discover the Power of Microsoft Office This beginner-friendly guide reveals the expert tips and strategies you need to skyrocket your productivity and use Office 365 like a pro. Mastering software like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is essential to be more efficient and advance your career. Simple lessons guide you through every step, providing the knowledge you need to get started. Check out Microsoft Office 365 For Beginners today!
Building blocks are a great tool for inserting standard information in your documents. It is also possible, however, to ...
Discover MoreBuilding Blocks can provide quite a bit of flexibility and power in a document. If you want to share Building Blocks with ...
Discover MoreBuilding Blocks can be a powerful tool for document creation in Word. Saving your Building Blocks and reloading them into ...
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.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. 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:
Comments