Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007 and 2010. 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: Using AutoCorrect to Start Macros.
William asked if it was possible to somehow tie the macros within Word to AutoCorrect entries. In that way, if an AutoCorrect entry is generated, then a macro could be started to process text or fill in information more complex than what a regular AutoCorrect entry allows.
Unfortunately there is no way to tie the two together. The closest feature within Word is the ability to set up shortcut keys for initiating macros. Exactly how you do this is discussed other issues of WordTips.
Note:
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (9446) applies to Microsoft Word 2007 and 2010. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Using AutoCorrect to Start Macros.
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!
The AutoCorrect feature in Word can be very helpful not just for correcting misspellings, but also for expanding short ...
Discover MoreLike to add a smiley or two to your writing? Word makes it easy through creative use of the AutoCorrect feature.
Discover MoreIf you rely on AutoCorrect (as most Word users do), you may have noticed that it doesn't always give the desired results ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2023-06-17 11:31:55
Michael
Can this be faked with a content control event?
1) autocorrect inserts a building block
2) building block is a content control
3) contentcontrolafteradd is an event that can trigger a macro
2023-03-17 11:59:09
Graham
Could the 'Running Macros Based on Keywords' tip help here?
https://wordribbon.tips.net/T012375_Running_Macros_Based_on_Keywords.html
I haven't tried it, but I thought the macro there could be tweaked to suit? I may have missed the point, of course!
2014-08-30 19:10:46
Beverly
I use Word Autocorrect extensively as I am a transcriptionist for a Court Reporter. I use it as a text expander and it works great for this. I not only set up specific characters for specific words or often repeated phrases such as "idk" is short for " I don't know ". I leave of the caps because it may be in the middle of another sentence or phrase needing other punctuation. I have also set a keyboard shortcut key to open Autocorrect dialogue box. This way I can add words or phrases on the fly when typing a new document with different repeated names, phrases, etc. to open the Autocorrect dialog I use ctrl+1 but anything you are comfortable with works fine. I stay away from the function keys because word already has most of those used.
I have found this to be much quicker than the Autotext in Word or the Quick-words in WP.
To date my autocorrect dictionary is in excess of 100 pages when printed. And most of those have been put in over the past 5 years a few at a time from different documents. It's easier to add a few at a time and it becomes second nature to type the two or three or more characters to get the text you want memorized by your hands when a specific word or phrase comes up.
I can give more info on how I set the words up if you want.
2013-06-17 11:18:26
Ray
Shame. Word Perfect has "Quick Correct", analogous to Word's Autocorrect, and "Quick Words", which functions the way William is asking Word to do. This was a major reason I stuck with WP for the longest time.
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 and 2010. 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