Using AutoCorrect

Excel includes a handy tool that is included in most Office applications: AutoCorrect. The purpose of AutoCorrect is to automatically change things you type, as you type them. This may sound strange, but it can really be a benefit. For instance, if you know you always misspell a certain word, you can force Excel to recognize that word and replace it with the proper one. Similarly, you can define short codes that can be automatically replaced with long words or phrases.

To add information to AutoCorrect you use the AutoCorrect dialog box. How you display it depends on the version of Excel you are using:

• Excel 97: Choose AutoCorrect from the Tools menu.
• Excel 2000: Choose AutoCorrect from the Tools menu.
• Excel 2002: Choose AutoCorrect Options from the Tools menu.
• Excel 2003: Choose AutoCorrect Options from the Tools menu.
• Excel 2007: Click the Office button, click Excel Options, click Proofing, and then click AutoCorrect Options.

Near the bottom of the AutoCorrect dialog box is a list of AutoCorrect entries. (Click here to see a related figure.) Each entry is made up of two parts; the part on the left is what you would type, and the part on the right is what Excel automatically uses instead of what you typed.

To add your own custom AutoCorrect entries, you do it using the Replace and With fields. All you need to do is type in the Replace field what you want Excel to recognize and in the With field what you want it replaced with. For instance, let's say you worked for the FDA, and you wanted Excel to replace "FDA" with "Food and Drug Administration," as you typed. All you would do is place "FDA" in the Replace field and "Food and Drug Administration" in the With field, and then click your mouse on Add.