Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. 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, and 2013. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Entering Tabs in a Table.
Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2013. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word 2013 Step by Step today!
Headings on a table are very important when it comes to understanding what is in the table. This tip explains an easy way ...
Discover MoreIf you need to quickly display the Column tab of the Table Properties dialog box, here are some handy tricks you can use. ...
Discover MoreFor those times when you remove the borders from your tables, Word provides a way that you can display non-printing ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2017-08-21 16:20:07
Peter Kirkpatrick
@Keith, it's simpler than that. Just use the left and right arrows.
2016-12-27 00:00:01
Keith
Putting the tab in the cell is easy, but I want to know how to be sable to USE it! How do you advance to the tab in a cell? Tried TAB, Ctrl TAB, Ctrl Shift TAB, Alt TAB, Ctrl Alt TAB. None do it.
2015-01-15 10:25:27
Roslyn
I'm a keyboard person and appreciate the Ctrl+Tab tip, but don't forget to mention the Increase Indent command - Home tab, Paragraph Group
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.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2019 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. 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