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: Quickly Inserting the Date Your Way.
Several other WordTips explain how you can understand and change the default dates used by Word. Some people prefer a simple way of inserting the date, in their preferred format, using Word's Building Block feature. To set up this method of date entry, follow these steps:
Figure 1. The Date and Time dialog box.
Figure 2. The Create New Building Block dialog box.
To use the entry, type the word Date and then press the F3 key. The word Date is replaced with your DATE field, as you saved it in the Building Block 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 (10359) applies to Microsoft Word 2007 and 2010. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Quickly Inserting the Date Your Way.
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2015-01-04 20:39:01
Paul K
In Word 2013, AutoComplete works like this:
In typing the month, Word recognizes, say, January after you type Janu. Pressing the Enter key completes the month. Pressing the space bar triggers Word to offer the day and year. Pressing the Enter key completes your date.
janu>Enter>Space>Enter = January 4, 2015
2015-01-02 15:12:24
Fred
Far too complicated for dummies like me. Example: "[Step]1.Position the insertion point on a blank line." doesn't help if we don't know what insertion point you mean (the arrow that shows where to type?) On a blank line where? (a new document or e-mail?)
If I can't get past step 1, I won't be able to follow the multitude of other steps... and making a paper copy of convoluted multiple directions is a minor nuisance, too.
Also: Once I put a date on something, I don't want the computer changing it every time I open the document.
2013-08-19 07:40:53
Bryan
If you just want to add the date and not a date field, you could use a macro to do it (assuming you only ever wanted to add today's date... otherwise you'd pretty much have to type it no matter what):
Sub InsertTodaysDate()
Selection.TypeText Format(Date, "dd-mmm-yy")
End Sub
As for your "b" question, Gary, I haven't used Word 2003 in over five years, so I'm not sure what the autocomplete feature to which you are referring is; however, if you assign a keyboard shortcut to the macro I presume it would be easier than any autocomplete.
2013-04-19 17:15:42
Gary B
This is a good tip for those who want a specific date format.
However, the problem(s)with this procedure:
a. Will update the doc everytime you open it. That's NO good when you require the doc to show/remain in its orig date.
b. It doesn't address the convenience of just typing a date for an autofill feature that was available in Word 97 - 03.
Answer 'b' and many will be pleased.
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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: 
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