Word attempts to be practical by instantly applying format to your file based on what you type. One example of this is when Word immediately creates a numbered or bulleted listing for you when you enter some text that Word believes need to be a numbered or bulleted listing.

When you kind a number followed by a period and then push the Space Bar or the Tab trick, Word immediately formats the paragraph as a numbered list. When you type an asterisk (*) and afterwards push the Space Bar or the Tab trick, Word instantly changes the asterisk with a bullet as well as styles the paragraph as a bulleted list. You can terminate automatic formatting for the current paragraph by immediately pushing “Ctrl + Z” right after the automatic formatting is applied.

Nevertheless, if you prefer to not have Word use automated numbered or bulleted lists whatsoever, you can turn this feature off. When you have a record open in Word, click the “File” tab.

In the checklist of products on the left, click “Options.”

On the “Word Options” dialog box, click “Proofing” in the checklist of products left wing.

In the “AutoCorrect choices” area, click the “AutoCorrect Options” button.

On the “AutoCorrect” dialog box, click the “AutoFormat As You Type” tab.

In the “Apply as you type” section, uncheck the “Automatic phoned number checklists” check box or “Automatic bulleted checklists”, or both. Click “OK” to approve your change and shut the dialog box.

You are gone back to the “Word Options” dialog box. Click “OKAY” to close the dialog box.

You can additionally find out just how to make use of Smart Tags in Word to return to numbered checklists. The post talks about Word 2007, yet the attribute still functions the same way in Word 2013.