Using Microsoft Word: AutoCorrect

By Douglas Eyman

Microsoft Word's AutoCorrect feature will let you create custom entries; you can insert a full comment with just a few keystrokes. With a little bit of work, you can also tie the comments in to whatever handbook you might be using. Or you can provide links to the 20 most common errors as described in Lunsford and Connor's The Everyday Writer.

To use the AutoCorrect feature (which is very handy for correcting common typing errors such as automatically changing "teh" into "the"), first make sure that the feature is turned on by going to the Tools menu and selecting AutoCorrect; make sure that "Replace text as you type" is checked.

Once you have created an AutoCorrect entry, Word will automatically make the change as you type. For instance, you might want to have "cs" automatically expand to "Comma Splice—see page 129 in the handbook." AutoCorrect also works in the Comment feature, which means that you can combine the two features to streamline your feedback and evaluation of student work.

You can use AutoCorrect to insert images as well as text, so you could create small iconic files representing proofreader's marks or other symbols and have those automatically inserted in the student text.

To create a custom AutoCorrect entry, follow these steps:

Step Mouse Action Keyboard Action
1

Highlight the text or graphic you want to store as an AutoCorrect entry.

Note: To include paragraph formatting with the entry, include the paragraph mark (¶) in the selection.

Highlight the text or graphic you want to store as an AutoCorrect entry.

Note: To include paragraph formatting with the entry, include the paragraph mark (¶) in the selection.

2

On the Menu bar:

  • Click Tools.
  • Click AutoCorrect.

Open the Tools menu by pressing ALT+T.

  • Open the AutoCorrect dialog box by pressing A.
3

On the AutoCorrect tab:

  • Select the Replace text as you type check box.

On the AutoCorrect tab:

  • Press ALT+T to select the Replace text as you type check box.
4

In the Replace box:

  • Type the name for the AutoCorrect entry you want to store.

Move to the Replace box by pressing ALT+R.

  • In the Replace box, type the name for the AutoCorrect entry you want to store.
5

Do one of the following:

  • Save the entry without its original formatting by clicking Plain text.
  • Save the entry with its original formatting by clicking Formatted text.

Do one of the following:

  • Save the entry without its original formatting by pressing ALT+P for Plain text.
  • Save the entry with its original formatting by pressing ALT+F for Formatted text.
6

Click Add, then click OK.

Press ENTER, then press ENTER again.

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Resources for Working with Microsoft Word