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: Entering Tabs in a Table.
When you are entering text in a table, some of the keyboard keys don't function as they do when you are working in the body of your document. One of those keys is the Tab key. If you press Tab, the insertion point moves to the next cell in the table, or if you are at the end of the table, it creates a new row.
There may be times, however, when you want a tab character in the table's text. In order to insert a tab, you can use either of these methods:
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (12932) 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: Entering Tabs in a Table.
Discover the Power of Microsoft Office This beginner-friendly guide reveals the expert tips and strategies you need to skyrocket your productivity and use Office 365 like a pro. Mastering software like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is essential to be more efficient and advance your career. Simple lessons guide you through every step, providing the knowledge you need to get started. Check out Microsoft Office 365 For Beginners today!
Tables are a great way to organize information in a document. For some editing needs, you may want to create a new ...
Discover MoreInsert a manual page break into the middle of a table, and you may find that subsequent pages of the table don't always ...
Discover MoreTable getting too long? Need to move part of a table to somewhere else in your document? You can easily split an existing ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2021-03-22 13:06:58
Hello,
I have tried both the options you suggest but neither work. What am I doing wrong?
I'm on Windows 10 and using Microsoft Word version 2019. I have created a table with 2 columns and lots of rows. I type at the beginning of the first column, then press the tab key and it takes me to the beginning of the second column. Great so far. Then I want to type at a point further along the second column. I use the space bar to get to the point where I want the tab. I then tried both your suggestions (Press Ctrl+Tab. and hold down the Alt key as you type 0009 on the numeric keypad). However, in both cases, when I tested them and pressed tab, it just took me from the start of the second column straight to the beginning of the first column of the row below.
Please help! Thank you.
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.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
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: 
Comments