Microsoft Word offers automatic list numbering that begins a list when you type the number 1 followed by a period at the start of a blank line. This feature is not always necessary, so today’s tutorial shows how to turn on and turn off automatic list numbering in Word for Mac.
Don’t miss the Pro Tip at the end, which shows an alternative way to quickly turn off automatic list numbering from within the text.
Quick Links:
- How to Turn On and Turn Off Automatic List Numbering in Word for Mac
- Pro Tip: How to Turn Off Automatic List Numbering from within the Text in Word for Mac
This tutorial is available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.
Watch more than 100 other writing-related software tutorials on my YouTube channel.
Are you on a PC? Please see “How to Turn On and Turn Off Automatic List Numbering in Microsoft Word.”
How to Turn On and Turn Off Automatic List Numbering
- Select the Word menu.
- Select Preferences from the drop-down menu.
- Select the AutoCorrect button in the Word Preferences dialog box.
- Select the AutoFormat As You Type tab in the AutoCorrect dialog box.
- Check Automatic numbered lists to turn on automatic list numbering, or uncheck it to turn off automatic list numbering.
Note that you can also check or uncheck Automatic bulleted lists.
- Select the Close button.
Pro Tip: How to Turn Off Automatic List Numbering from within the Text
When you create the first entry in a list with automatic numbering turned on, you can quickly turn off the automatic numbering by selecting the AutoCorrect Options button and then selecting Stop Automatically Creating Numbered Lists from the drop-down menu.
Alternatively, you can select Control AutoFormat Options to open the AutoCorrect dialog box (see figure 4).
The AutoCorrect Options button will disappear once you create the second list entry.
Related Resources
How to Create a Custom Heading Style in Microsoft Word for Mac