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: Inserting the Current Month.

Inserting the Current Month

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated July 16, 2024)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021


4

In certain documents, it would be helpful to insert the current month. For instance, you might need to do a monthly report in which you place the current month name in the title of the report. Word allows you to insert a field for the month, and this field will be updated automatically whenever you print your document. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Position the insertion point where you want the month inserted.
  2. Press Ctrl+F9 to insert a set of field braces. Make sure the insertion point remains between the braces.
  3. Type date \@MMMM.
  4. Press F9 to update the field.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (9414) 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: Inserting the Current Month.

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. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Quickly Changing Columns

You can use the Columns tool, available on the Page Layout or Layout tab (depending on which version of Word you are ...

Discover More

Selectively Importing Records

Want to easily control which records get imported from a text file into Excel? It's easy to do when you write the macro ...

Discover More

Deleting Shortcuts

Windows allows you to easily create any number of shortcuts you desire. If you want to get rid of those shortcuts at some ...

Discover More

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!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Getting Rid of Fields Inserted by Third-Party Programs

Third-party programs can be used to affect a document and change what is contained therein. Of course, getting rid of ...

Discover More

Conditional Calculations in Word

Word allows you to insert simple formulas, using fields, in table cells. You can also create simple conditional ...

Discover More

Using the GotoButton Field

Need to jump from one place in your document to another? One way to do this is through the user of the GotoButton field, ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is six more than 0?

2024-07-16 08:07:38

Ray McAllister

I will likely be preparing my monthly report after the last day of the month. How do I use the field to insert last month into the document text?


2023-01-02 02:23:06

Raahul Dev

Thanks, Allen for sharing this excellent tip. I want to add the previous month, like December 2022 & this month, January 2023 in mmm yyyy format in a Word file that automatically gets updated when I open this Word file.Thanks, Allen for sharing this excellent tip. I want to add the previous month, like December 2022 & this month, January 2023 in mmm yyyy format in a Word file that automatically gets updated when I open this Word file. I'm using Microsoft 365.

Sorry for the similar comment on the webpage for the older version of Word. I read later after posting the comment that the webpage is for the older versions of Word & not for Microsoft 365.


2021-07-23 11:38:48

Eitan

Thank you,
How would you insert next month?


2021-07-23 03:54:50

Eitan

Thank you,
How would you insert next month?


This Site

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.

Videos
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.