Using AutoComplete Tips

Word includes a nifty little feature called AutoComplete. This feature uses what Microsoft calls AutoComplete tips. These are used when you are typing AutoText phrases or even the names of months. As you type, Word will bring up a little yellow box above the incomplete word. If you then press F3 or the Tab key, Word automatically finishes the phrase. You may have noticed this if you ever typed in the name of a month, such as January.

To enable or disable the AutoComplete tips feature, follow these steps if you are using a version of Word prior to Word 2007:

1. Select AutoCorrect Options from the Tools menu. Word displays the AutoCorrect dialog box.
2. Click your mouse on the AutoText tab. (Click here to see a related figure.)
3. Depending on your version of Word, select either the Show AutoComplete Tip for AutoText and Dates option or the Show AutoComplete Suggestions option to enable this feature, or deselect the option if you no longer want it.
4. Click on OK.

With the release of Word 2007, Microsoft "absorbed" the AutoText feature into the Building Blocks Organizer. They kept the AutoComplete capability, as described above, but removed the ability to enable or disable the AutoComplete tips. Thus, you can use the AutoComplete tips in Word 2007, but you cannot control whether they are displayed or not.