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make autoformat options apply to every document in Word 2019

Anonymous
2023-11-19T21:41:46+00:00

I prefer ordinal numbers to have "th" be on the line, not superscript. I've been using Word 2019 for several years and this has never been an issue--I set it in Autoformat in Options and it's that way in all the documents I create (7th, 9th, etc). Now suddenly every new documents makes it superscript and I have to re-set that option every time. How can I make Word always format this the way I want? Is there something I'm missing here?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Stefan Blom 342.1K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2023-11-20T17:41:05+00:00

You are welcome.

The setting on the AutoFormat tab shouldn't have any impact on the corresponding setting on the AutoFormat As You Type tab. I don't know what happened on your system to create such a "link." If the issue returns, try repairing your Office installation.

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Answer accepted by question author

Stefan Blom 342.1K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2023-11-20T01:00:51+00:00

The AutoCorrect dialog box has two tabs for changing text: AutoFormat and AutoFormat As You Type.

Changes that should be enforced during typing must be selected on the latter tab.

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  1. Charles Kenyon 167.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-11-20T19:18:47+00:00

    The one under AutoFormat should have no effect on what happens as you type.

    AutoFormat gets applied to text already typed, and only on command. The command is not that easy to find.

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  2. Charles Kenyon 167.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-11-20T03:27:47+00:00

    Stefan may be correct that you are changing the option on the wrong dialog.

    The macros I gave you are not ones that can be recorded, they have to be written. They do not change the superscript back when AutoFormat as you type does its thing. They stop it from doing that. These are the option settings. The links are to two MVP sites that explain how to use macros that you see on a site like this.

    If you just want to undo it when it happens, that does not take any macro. Just use Undo (Ctrl+Z) when the letters get set as superscript. This is true of any AutoCorrect or AutoFormat as You Type change made.

    If you are changing the option in the correct location, it is likely that some Add-In (even if you do not think you have any) is causing the problem.

    Try starting Word in safe mode.

    Open Office apps in safe mode on a Windows PC - Microsoft Office

    When it is opened in safe mode, what is the AutoFormat as You Type setting for ordinals?

    If it is checked and you unchdeck it, with Word in safe mode, what happens when you again start Word first, in safe mode again, and then start Word normally?

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  3. Charles Kenyon 167.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-11-19T21:48:13+00:00

    I assume you are using the desktop version of Word, not the browser/online version.

    You can as a short-term fix create a macro that does this for you.

    The following macros will stop this from happening but do not fix the problem. They would go in a module in your Normal.dotm template.

    Sub AutoNew()
    Options.AutoFormatAsYouTypeReplaceOrdinals = False
    End Sub

    Sub AutoOpen()
    Options.AutoFormatAsYouTypeReplaceOrdinals = False
    End Sub

    However, you need to find out what is resetting that option for you.

    You indicate that this is home use in your post but I want to confirm that you are not on a company or organization network. Is that correct.

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