Including a Leading Zero in Numbered Lists

Al can create a simple numbered list by selecting the paragraphs and using the Numbering tool on the Home tab of the ribbon. However, he would like the numbers 1 through 9 in the list to include a leading zero, so they would be 01 through 09. He wonders if there is a way, using Word's Numbering tool, to including the leading zero.

The short answer is yes, this can be done rather easily. Follow these steps:

1. Select all of the paragraphs you want included in your numbered list.
2. On the Home tab of the ribbon, click the drop-down arrow at the right of the Numbering tool in the Paragraph group. Word displays a palette of options.
3. Click the Define New Number Format option. Word displays the Define New Number Format dialog box. (See Figure 1.)



Figure 1. The Define New Number Format dialog box.

4. Click the down-arrow at the right of the Number Style control, at the top of the dialog box. Word presents you with a plethora of formats you can use for your numbering.
5. Scroll down until you see the "01, 02, 03, ..." style. Click on it once to select it. The style appears in the Number Format box.
6. Make any other changes desired in the number format.
7. Click OK.

The desired numbering, with leading zeros for numbers below 10, is applied to the paragraphs you selected in step 1. You can then apply the same format to other lists by selecting the paragraphs and clicking the down-arrow next to the Numbering tool. In the resulting options, your number format (with leading zeros) should appear in the Document Number Formats area of the options.

There is another way that you can create this numbering style, if you desire. I find this easy to do if I have not yet created any paragraphs for my numbered. List. Start by pressing Enter a couple of times so that you are ready to start typing a new paragraph. Then, type a zero, the number 1, a period, and press Tab. Word's often-over-exuberant help should kick in and assume you are starting to type a numbered list. In the process, it numbers the list using 01., just like you want.

At this point you can continue typing the items in your numbered list. Plus, when you click the down-arrow at the right of the Numbering tool, you should see your leading-zero number format available in the Document Number Formats area of the options.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (13960) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Word in Microsoft 365.