Create Table of Contents MS Word
This is How to Create a Table of Contents in MS Word.
Inserting a Table of Contents in MS Word is quick and easy.
Quick Summary
- Create some text in a new document
- Open Styles Box (SHIFT + CTRL + ALT + S keys)
- Select text you want as a heading
- Apply Heading style to text
- Position cursor where you want TOC
- Go to References Tab > Table of Contents > Choose the Automatic Table of Contents.
Reference Steps
Step 1: Create a New Document
Open a blank document in MS Word.
Type some text in this blank document.
You could make it like below – Heading 1, Heading 2 etc.
Step 2: Open Styles Box
Press these keys all at the same time to make the Styles Box appear. (Yes – it takes 4 fingers to do this….)
SHIFT Key
CTRL Key
ALT Key
The letter S key
The Styles Box will appear. See below.
Step 3: Select Text
Go back over and select your Heading 1 text. Put the cursor in the margin and click the text.
See below.
Step 4: Apply style to Text
Then go back over to the Styles Box and click Heading 1. This will turn your text into a heading that will automatically appear in the Table of Contents.
See below.
Step 5: Repeat
You can repeat this for your second heading.
Make sure you click the Heading 1 styles though in the styles box.
See below.
Step 6: Make some Space for the Table of Contents
Once you have done the above, move your text down the page a bit by placing the cursor and hitting enter a few times.
We will place the Table of Contents in this newly created spot.
See below.
Step 7: Insert Table of Contents
Now for the fun bit.
Click References at the top.
Then click Table of Contents button.
Then click the first item down that pops up. Automatic Table 1. This will insert the Table of Contents.
Step 8: Done
And there it is – it should have appeared in the space you created.
See below.
That is the simplest and easiest way to create a Table of Contents in MS Word from scratch.
You can go through and add more headings by adding more text and APPLYING the same Styles to each heading.
The Styles give you all the control for the Table of Contents so use those to create the headings that will appear in your Table of Contents.
Hope this helped. Anything we missed? Got a comment?
Please feel free to leave your comments below.
Also check out – Fix Your Table of Contents in Word – 3 Steps to Check
