AutoCorrect in Word automatically changes typos and common misspellings as you type. It also replaces certain character sequences with symbols or formatted text. When AutoCorrect changes a word you intentionally typed in a specific way, it disrupts your workflow and introduces errors. This article explains how to stop AutoCorrect from changing specific words without turning off the entire feature. You will learn to manage the AutoCorrect exceptions list and use the undo trick to prevent unwanted replacements.
Key Takeaways: Managing AutoCorrect Exceptions for Individual Words
- File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options > Exceptions button: Opens the list where you add words that AutoCorrect must never change.
- First Letter tab in the Exceptions dialog: Prevents AutoCorrect from capitalizing the first letter of a specific word after a period.
- INitial CAps tab in the Exceptions dialog: Stops AutoCorrect from correcting words with two initial capital letters that you intend to keep that way.
How AutoCorrect Handles Specific Words and Why It Can Be a Problem
AutoCorrect uses a built-in dictionary of common misspellings and symbol replacements. When you type a word that matches an entry in that dictionary, Word replaces it with the corrected version. For example, typing “teh” becomes “the” and typing “(c)” becomes the copyright symbol. This feature helps most users, but it causes problems when you need to keep a word in its original form. Common scenarios include brand names like “eMail” that AutoCorrect changes to “Email,” technical terms such as “WiFi” changed to “Wi-Fi,” or acronyms like “US” changed to “Us.” Word provides an Exceptions list where you can add words that AutoCorrect must ignore. The Exceptions list applies to the current document only unless you choose to save it to a global list.
Before you start, ensure you have the document open where the unwanted AutoCorrect behavior occurs. You do not need any special permissions or add-ins. The steps work the same in Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2021, Word 2019, and Word 2016 on Windows. On Mac, the menu paths differ slightly but the Exceptions feature exists under Tools > AutoCorrect Options.
Steps to Add Specific Words to the AutoCorrect Exceptions List
Follow these steps to stop Word from correcting a particular word. The process uses the AutoCorrect Options dialog and the Exceptions button.
- Open the AutoCorrect Options dialog
Click the File tab, then select Options. In the Word Options dialog, click Proofing on the left pane. Click the AutoCorrect Options button near the top of the Proofing pane. - Open the Exceptions dialog
In the AutoCorrect dialog, click the Exceptions button located at the bottom left. The AutoCorrect Exceptions dialog opens with four tabs: First Letter, INitial CAps, Other Corrections, and Icons for AutoCorrect. - Choose the correct tab for the type of correction
Select the tab that matches the AutoCorrect behavior you want to stop:
– Use First Letter to stop Word from capitalizing the first letter of a word after a period (for example, keep “eMail” lowercase).
– Use INitial CAps to stop Word from correcting a word that starts with two capital letters (for example, keep “IDs” instead of changing it to “Ids”).
– Use Other Corrections to stop Word from replacing a misspelled word or a symbol sequence (for example, stop “teh” from becoming “the” or “(c)” from becoming the copyright symbol). - Type the word you want to exclude
In the text box under the selected tab, type the exact word you want AutoCorrect to ignore. For the First Letter tab, type the word as it should appear after the period (lowercase). For the INitial CAps tab, type the word with the two initial capitals exactly as you want it. For Other Corrections, type the word exactly as you type it, not the corrected version. - Add the word to the list
Click the Add button. The word appears in the list below the text box. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for any additional words. - Save and close the dialogs
Click OK in the AutoCorrect Exceptions dialog. Click OK in the AutoCorrect dialog. Click OK in the Word Options dialog.
After you complete these steps, Word will no longer apply the specific AutoCorrect rule to the words you added. The change takes effect immediately. You do not need to restart Word or reopen the document.
Using the Undo Trick to Add an Exception Quickly
When AutoCorrect changes a word you just typed, you can undo the correction and automatically add the word to the Exceptions list at the same time. This method is faster than opening the Options dialog.
- Type the word that AutoCorrect changes
Word immediately replaces the word with its corrected version. - Press Ctrl+Z or click the Undo button
Word reverts the word to your original typing. A small blue AutoCorrect icon appears near the word. - Click the AutoCorrect icon and select Stop Automatically Correcting
Hover over the blue icon until a drop-down arrow appears. Click the arrow and choose Stop Automatically Correcting “word”. Word adds the word to the Other Corrections exceptions list silently.
Common Issues and Limitations With AutoCorrect Exceptions
Word Still Corrects the Word After Adding It to the Exceptions List
This usually happens when you add the word to the wrong tab. If the correction involves capitalization, verify you used the First Letter or INitial CAps tab. For spelling corrections, confirm you added the word as typed, not the corrected version. For example, to stop “teh” from becoming “the,” add “teh” in the Other Corrections tab. Adding “the” will not work.
The Exception Works Only in the Current Document
By default, exceptions are saved to the current document only. To make an exception apply to all new documents, you must save the exceptions list to a global file. In the AutoCorrect Exceptions dialog, check the box labeled Automatically add words to list. This option adds words you undo using the Ctrl+Z method to a global exceptions list stored in your user profile. You can also manually copy the exceptions list by exporting the registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\AutoCorrect on Windows, but this requires advanced knowledge.
AutoCorrect Replaces a Word With a Symbol or Special Character
When you type a sequence like “(c)” or “–” and Word replaces it with a symbol, use the Other Corrections tab. Add the exact character sequence as typed, such as “(c)” or “–“. Word will stop replacing that sequence in the future.
AutoCorrect Exceptions: Document-Specific vs Global Settings
| Item | Document-Specific Exceptions | Global Exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Only the current document | All documents on the same computer |
| How to create | Add words via the Exceptions dialog without checking the automatic add box | Check “Automatically add words to list” or manually add words and save the global list |
| Storage location | Embedded in the document file | Registry key or .acl file in user profile |
| Portability | Travels with the document when shared | Does not transfer to other computers |
If you share documents with colleagues, use document-specific exceptions so the corrections behave consistently on their machines. If you work alone on a single computer, global exceptions save time by applying to every new document.
You can now prevent AutoCorrect from changing any specific word in your documents. Use the Exceptions dialog to add words manually or the undo trick for immediate results. For persistent corrections that span multiple documents, enable the automatic add to list option. Remember that exceptions added to the First Letter or INitial CAps tabs only affect capitalization rules. For symbol replacements, always use the Other Corrections tab. Test your exceptions by typing the word in a new document to confirm the behavior.