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: Creating a Numbered List.

Creating a Numbered List

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 9, 2024)

Numbered lists are often used in many types of documents. For instance, numbered lists are used extensively in WordTips to detail the steps that must be followed to implement a tip. Word makes it very easy to insert a numbered list into your document. To do so, follow these steps:

Type your list, only pressing Enter at the end of each item in the list. If an item runs more than one line, do not press Enter at the end of each line (let the text wrap to the next line automatically).
Select all the items (paragraphs) in the list.
Display the Home tab of the ribbon.
Click on the numbered list tool in the Paragraph group.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (11160) 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: Creating a Numbered List.

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. Learn more about Allen...

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What is six minus 5?

2021-02-14 13:33:29

JMJ

@N. Davidson
The “Home” button on a Mac keyboard: Fn + Left Arrow

2021-01-23 14:54:33

N. Davidson

None of these tips helps me because you always refer to the HOME button on the ribbon. I have Word for Mac 14.0.0 and there is no such
HOME tap. I wish you would give instructions for this version.

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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.