How To Format a Table of Contents in Word in 7 Steps

The table of contents is one of the most important components of any document, regardless of the purpose. It allows the reader to quickly understand the structure of the document, making it easier to find the information they need. However, formatting a table of contents in Microsoft Word isn’t always easy. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to format table of contents in Word in a professional way. We’ll go over the key elements of table of contents formatting, from heading styles to page numbers, and provide tips to ensure your table of contents is accurate and easy to read. By the end of this post, you’ll have the knowledge and confidence to format a table of contents in Microsoft Word that looks great and functions well.

1. Go to References > Table of Contents > Custom Table of Contents.
2. Select Modify. …
3. In the Styles list, click the level that you want to change and then click Modify.
4. In the Modify Style pane, make your changes.
5. Select OK to save changes.

What is a table of contents?

An ordered list of the sections contained within a written work, frequently a book, pamphlet, or other type of reference material, is called a table of contents. In many fields, tables of contents are crucial because they enable authors to draw readers’ attention to the key points of their works and make it easier for readers to find the information they need. For instance, academic textbook authors can organize their works with tables of contents so that students can use them to study particular subjects. A table of contents can be used in professional writings such as lengthy reports or training manuals.

How to format a table of contents in Word

To format a table of contents in Microsoft Word, follow these instructions:

1. Ensure that each section of your document has a heading

Make sure your document uses headings before you can create a table of contents in Word. By doing this, Word will automatically include the sections of your work in the table of contents once it is created. By selecting each section’s title and going to the “Styles” tab in the “Home” section of the “Home” menu bar, you can add headings to the various sections of your document. Select a heading style, which should be your section titles, and then click the option to apply it to all of your highlighted text.

2. Navigate to the “References” menu

Find the “References” menu as the next step in creating a table of contents in Word. The “Home” menu bar, which typically appears at the top of a Word document and contains buttons like “Insert” and “Layout,” contains this option. To open a new window, select the “References” option from this menu bar.

3. Open the “Table of Contents” window

Find the window that generates a new table of contents once the “References” menu is open. This usually appears as a button with the top-right corner of a page folded in. You can select from a variety of styles for your table of contents by clicking the “Table of Contents” button, which opens a new window with a list of template options.

4. Create a new table of contents

Select the template that best fits your project from the options listed in the “Table of Contents” window. Typically, Word provides a number of style options, including “Classic,” “Contemporary,” and “Modern.” Choose the template you want to use and click on it to create a new table of contents. When you do this, Word applies your selection to the document and a new table of contents with the sections you previously highlighted and formatted as headings appears on the page. Click “Save” when the table of contents appears for your Word document.

5. Edit the sections in your table of contents

You can further edit your table of contents after creating it to include the sections and details you desire. For instance, if a section of your text that you don’t want to stand out in the table of contents, you can locate it in the text’s body and remove the heading style to take it out of the table. Additionally, you can modify every element of your table of contents using the “Custom Table of Contents” button at the bottom of the window, including the table’s alignment and the positioning and inclusion of page numbers.

Navigate to the “Update Table” button that appears when you click on your table of contents after making any modifications. Then, click “Update Entire Table” to put your changes into effect and secure them. To ensure that the document keeps all of the changes you make while editing the content in your table, click “Save” frequently.

6. Customize the text in your table of contents

Your table of contents will be formatted and styled in general when you select a template from the “Table of Contents” window, but you can further modify it by changing the text that appears there. The sections you list, the pages they refer to, and the primary heading in your table of contents are all examples of this.

To change these components, click and drag your cursor across the text you want to style to highlight it. Then, right-click or simultaneously press and hold two buttons on your computer’s trackpad to reveal a menu of choices. To access the options for changing the text that appears in your table of contents, select the “Font” option. You can select the color, font, and underline style in this window to go with your project.

7. Review and save your table of contents

After customizing your table of contents, go through the entire table one last time. By doing so, you can make sure that your table of contents contains the information you want and is error-free (i.e., free of spelling and grammar errors). After that, click “Save” to keep your modifications after sending your document to additional readers.

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Creating a Table of Contents in Microsoft Word

FAQ

What is the proper format for a Table of Contents?

Make a manual table by clicking References. A TOC with placeholders is inserted by Microsoft Word, which you can now edit. You can modify this with your own fonts and colors. Keep in mind that you must manually enter the page numbers as well.

How do you align a Table of Contents perfectly in Word?

1. “Table of Contents” should be the page’s title, and it should be centered at the top of the page.
2. For each section of your paper, create an outline.
3. All main headings should be flush-left.
4. Sub-headings should be indented five spaces.
5. All entries should use title case.