How to Enable or Disable Auto Capitalization in Word

Key Takeaways 

• Both enabling and disabling auto-capitalization are possible, and you have many capitalization options.
• It is possible to create exceptions for specific words or situations.

How to Enable Auto-Capitalization in Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word has a proofing section where users can personalize spelling and grammar settings. In this section, you can manage the option to auto-capitalize. Here’s how to enable auto-capitalization in Microsoft Word:

Step 1: Open the Word app or any Word document.

Step 2: Click on the File tab at the top left of the Microsoft Office Ribbon.

Step 3: Scroll to the bottom of the File menu and click on More Options to reveal a collapsed menu.

Step 4: Click Options from the menu.

Step 5: On the left of the Word Options pop-up, click the Proofing tab.

Step 6: Click the AutoCorrect Options button from the Proofing settings to launch the AutoCorrect window.

Step 7: On the AutoCorrect Window, click the AutoCorrect tab.

Step 8: To enable auto-capitalization, check the boxes next to one of the options in the AutoCorrect tab:

• Correct TWo INitial CApitals
• Capitalize first letter of sentences
• Capitalize first letter of table cells
• Capitalize names of days
• Correct accidental usage of cAPS LOCK key

Step 9: Click the Exceptions button to create exceptions where auto-capitalization must be set.

Step 10: On the AutoCorrect Exceptions window, click the INitial CAps tab.

Step 11: In the Don’t correct field, enter the capitalization format for words or letters you would not like Microsoft Word to correct when you type.

Step 12: Select Add to include the word to your exception list.

Step 13: Click OK at the bottom of the window to save your new exception.

Step 14: Click OK on the AutoCorrect Window to close it and save your auto-capitalization selections.

You may follow specific fixes if you cannot open certain Word files.

How to Disable Auto-Capitalization in Microsoft Word

If you want to disable auto-capitalization or you would like to update your exceptions list to include words Microsoft Word shouldn’t capitalize, here’s how you can do so:

Step 1: Open the Word app or any Word document.

Step 2: Click on the File tab at the top left of the Microsoft Office Ribbon.

Step 3: Scroll to the bottom of the File menu and click on More Options to reveal a collapsed menu.

Step 4: Click Options from the menu.

Step 5: On the left of the Word Options pop-up, click the Proofing tab.

Step 6: Click the AutoCorrect Options button from the Proofing settings to launch the AutoCorrect window.

Step 7: On the AutoCorrect Window, click the AutoCorrect tab.

Step 8: To disable auto-capitalization, untick all or some of the following options displayed in the AutoCorrect tab:

• Correct TWo INitial CApitals
• Capitalize first letter of sentences
• Capitalize first letter of table cells
• Capitalize names of days
• Correct accidental usage of cAPS LOCK key

Step 9: Click the Exceptions button to create Exceptions where your ticked options for auto-capitalization need not be set in.

Step 10: On the AutoCorrect Exceptions window, click the First Letter tab.

Step 11: In the Don’t capitalize after field, enter the capitalization format for words or letters you would not like Microsoft Word to capitalize when you type.

Step 12: Select Add to include the word to your exception list.

Step 13: Click OK at the bottom of the window to save your new exception.

Step 14: Click OK on the AutoCorrect Window to close it and save your auto-capitalization selections.