Stopping EHR from Correcting

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 3, 2024)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365

Kirk writes about Electronic Health Records (EHR) from time to time. Whenever he types EHR in a document, Word automatically changes it to HER. Kirk has tried putting in EHR as a definition in the proofing section, but it does not help.

This is not an issue for the spelling checker, where I assume Kirk is creating the definition he mentions, but instead is something being done by AutoCorrect. Word comes with many pre-defined AutoCorrect entries, and this happens to be one of those. To fix it, follow these steps:

Display the Word Options dialog box. (Display the File tab of the ribbon and then click Options.)
Click Proofing at the left side of the screen.
Click AutoCorrect Options. Word displays the AutoCorrect tab of the AutoCorrect dialog box.
In the list of AutoCorrect entries, locate and select the entry that has "ehr" in the left column. The AutoCorrect entry should move up into the Replace and With boxes. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. Finding the AutoCorrect option.

Click the Delete button.
Close any open dialog boxes.

Anytime you type EHR in the future, it should now remain unchanged. If you type something else and it automatically changes to something you don't want, remember that you can press Ctrl+Z right after the change and Word will undo it.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (11668) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365.

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...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Including Headers and Footers when Selecting All

If you are creating a macro that, in the course of processing your document, needs to update all the fields in the ...

Discover More

Controlling the Bold Text Attribute

When processing a document in a macro, you may need to make some of your text bold. It's easy to do using the Bold ...

Discover More

Setting Decimal Tabs in a Table Using the Keyboard

Most people use the mouse to set tab stops in the paragraphs in a table. If you prefer to not use the mouse, then you'll ...

Discover More

Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2021 or Microsoft 365. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word Step by Step today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Can't Save Formatted AutoCorrect Entries

How you go about creating an AutoCorrect entry can be an important part of what you can do with that entry. Here's an ...

Discover More

Emoticons in Word

Like to add a smiley or two to your writing? Word makes it easy through creative use of the AutoCorrect feature.

Discover More

Make AutoCorrect Pay Attention to Character Case

If you rely on AutoCorrect (as most Word users do), you may have noticed that it doesn't always give the desired results ...

Discover More

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

Notify me about new comments ONLY FOR THIS TIP

Notify me about new comments ANYWHERE ON THIS SITE

Hide my email address

What is six more than 0?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)

This Site

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.