Turn Automatic Bullets and Numbering Off or On in Microsoft Word

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated March 22, 2021

Applies to: Microsoft® Word® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 or 365 (Windows)

You can turn off automatic bullets and numbering in Word by changing AutoFormat settings in the AutoCorrect dialog box. Automatic bullets and numbering are turned on by default but you can turn these options off or on when needed. If Word seems to be automatically formatting your document, there are also other AutoFormat As You Type options that can be turned off.

If automatic bulleted and numbered lists are turned on in AutoCorrect, when you type an asterisk and then press the spacebar, Word will start creating a bulleted list. If you type 1. and then press the spacebar, Word will assume you want to start a numbered list.

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Turning off automatic bullets or numbering

To turn off automatic bullets or numbering

  1. Click the File tab in the Ribbon.
  2. Select Options. A dialog box appears.
  3. In the categories on the left, select Proofing.
  4. Click AutoCorrect. A dialog box appears.
  5. Select the Autoformat As You Type Tab.
  6. Deselect on uncheck Automatic bulleted list and / or Automatic numbered lists.
  7. Select OK twice.

Automatic bulleted and number list options appear in the Autocorrect dialog box:

Autocorrect dialog box in Word to stop automatic bullets or numbering.

Turning off automatic formatting of bulleted or numbered lists

To turn off automatic formatting of bulleted or numbered lists:

  1. Click the File tab in the Ribbon.
  2. Select Options. A dialog box appears.
  3. In the categories on the left, select Proofing.
  4. Click AutoCorrect. A dialog box appears.
  5. Select the Autoformat As You Type Tab.
  6. Deselect on uncheck Format beginning of list item like the one before it.
  7. Select OK twice.

Often, when Word seems to insert or format automatically, a setting in AutoCorrect is the issue. Note that AutoFormat As You Type and AutoFormat are two different tabs. AutoFormat as You Type options will make changes as you type. AutoFormat options will change an existing document so be very careful selecting options on the AutoFormat tab.

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Summary
How to Turn Off Automatic Bullets and Numbering in Word
Article Name
How to Turn Off Automatic Bullets and Numbering in Word
Description
You can turn off automatic bullets and numbering in Word by changing AutoFormat settings in the AutoCorrect dialog box. Automatic bullets and numbering are turned on by default but you can turn these options off or on when needed. If Word seems to be automatically formatting your document, there are also other AutoFormat As You Type options that can be turned off.
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Avantix Learning

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