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: Automatic Initial Capitals in Tables.

Automatic Initial Capitals in Tables

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated April 30, 2020)

One of the standard elements of Word's AutoCorrect feature is the option to automatically capitalize the first word of a sentence. Generally we accept this feature, except when we are creating a list of words in a table. Then the automatic capitalization is annoying, to say the least.

Word fortunately includes an AutoCorrect option that allows you to specify how capitalization should occur in tables. Follow these steps:

Display the Word Options dialog box. (In Word 2007 click the Office button and then click Word Options. In Word 2010 and later versions display the File tab of the ribbon and then click Options.)
Click Proofing at the left side of the screen.
Click the AutoCorrect Options button. Word displays the AutoCorrect dialog box. Make sure the AutoCorrect tab is selected. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The AutoCorrect dialog box.

Modify the Capitalize First Letter of Table Cells check box, as desired.
Click OK to close the AutoCorrect dialog box.
Click OK to close the Word Options dialog box.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (11645) 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: Automatic Initial Capitals in Tables.

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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