Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. 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 Subject in Your Document.

Inserting the Subject in Your Document

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 4, 2023)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016

Word keeps track of properties for a document. You can see the information maintained by Word by following one of these techniques:

If you are using Word 2007 click the Office button, then choose Prepare | Properties. Word displays the Document Information Panel at the top of the document. Use the Document Properties drop-down list (top-left corner of the Document Information Panel) to choose Advanced Properties. Word displays the Properties dialog box.
If you are using Word 2010 or a later version, click the File tab of the ribbon and then click Info | Properties | Advanced Properties. Word displays the Properties dialog box.

One of the pieces of information you have the opportunity to enter in these properties is the subject of your document. Once you set the subject, Word allows you to insert this information into your document by following these steps:

Position the insertion point where you want the subject to appear.
Display the Insert tab of the ribbon.
Click Quick Parts (in the Text group) and then click Field. Word displays the Field dialog box. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The Field dialog box.

In the Categories list, choose Document Information. Word updates the choices in the Field Names list.
In the Field Names list choose Subject.
Click on OK to close the dialog box and insert your 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 (11570) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Inserting the Subject in Your Document.

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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