# How do I make MS Word Stop Thinking for Me?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-ms-word-stop-thinking-for-me/110595>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 24, 2002, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-ms-word-stop-thinking-for-me/110595 "2002-05-24T01:44:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-ms-word-stop-thinking-for-me/110595/1 "2002-05-24T01:44:45Z")

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It is _ **very** _ frustrating to have to fight with MS word when it tries to think for you, especially in formatting. For example, I’m trying to write something in  
1)  
2)  
3)  
format, and it keeps messing up the spacing. How do I disable ALL or as many as possible of these damned “you’re too stupid to know what you’re doing” features?

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**Author:** ![dqa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dqa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dqa)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-ms-word-stop-thinking-for-me/110595/2 "2002-05-24T01:53:10Z")

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May I suggest you play with Format-Bullets and Numbering and then the Customize button under whichever tab you select.

Frankly, I’ve never tried this, but it’s a good place to start.

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-ms-word-stop-thinking-for-me/110595/3 "2002-05-24T02:26:22Z")

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Check out “Tools,” "Autocorrect, and “Autoformat.” Under “Apply,” uncheck “Lists.”

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**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-ms-word-stop-thinking-for-me/110595/4 "2002-05-24T04:18:28Z")

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a) Uninstall Microsoft Word  
b) Obtain Lotus WordPro if you’re on a PC; Nisus Writer if you’re on a Mac  
c) Install new software  
d) Watch blood pressure drop. Stop cursing at talking paper clips.

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**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2002, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-ms-word-stop-thinking-for-me/110595/5 "2002-05-24T06:06:14Z")

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How to turn off most of MS Word’s automatic formatting features:

(note: I have Word 2002, so if your version is different these instructions may be slightly different, but you should still be able to figure out where everything is.)

On the Tools menu, click AutoCorrect Options. On the AutoCorrect tab of the AutoCorrect dialog box, uncheck every box. On the AutoFormat As You Type tab, uncheck every box. (That one’s an important one.) And finally, on the AutoFormat tab, uncheck every box.

Might I suggest, by the way, that anyone who cares to express his or her personal opinion about the OP’s choice of software take it to the appropriate forum, which is NOT GQ.