Document Editing Problems

How to Add a Figure Caption with A, B, C Numbering in Word

Chanuka Geekiyanage Oct 8, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to add a specific text caption to a picture and change the default numerical numbering of the figure label to an alphabetical format (A, B, C).

How to Add a Figure Caption with A, B, C Numbering in Word

Product: Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting and labeling images within a document to meet specific academic or corporate stylistic guidelines.
Observed behavior: The user needs to change the default numeric caption style to an alphabetical format and correctly append custom text to the label.

Before you start

Ensure the picture is already inserted into your document and formatted with the correct text wrapping style (such as 'In Line with Text') so the caption stays anchored to the image.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Built-in Insert Caption Tool

This is the most straightforward method to add alphabetical numbering to your image captions using standard reference tools.

The standard Caption feature allows you to customize both the label text and the numbering sequence without altering your document's main heading styles.

Select the picture

Click directly on the picture in your document to select it.

Open the Insert Caption dialog

Navigate to the 'References' tab on the top ribbon and click on 'Insert Caption'.

Enter your caption text

In the Caption text box, type your desired text (for example, 'Built to last') after the default label.

Adjust the numbering format

Click the 'Numbering' button. In the Format drop-down menu, choose the 'A, B, C' alphabetical style, then click 'OK'.

Apply the new caption

Review the preview to ensure it displays correctly, then click 'OK' to insert the caption below your image.

Missing Labels: If the 'Figure' label is not available in the Label dropdown list, click the 'New Label' button to manually create it before adjusting the numbering.

Solution 2

Apply a Custom Multilevel Numbering Style

Use this method if the standard alphabetical format is unavailable or if you need to tie the picture letters to specific chapter headings.

Efficient Document Formatting

Easily Add and Manage Captions in WPS Writer

WPS Office Writer offers an intuitive and highly compatible References tool that makes formatting and numbering picture captions simple, acting as a perfect lightweight alternative to Microsoft Word.

1. Insert your image: Open your document in WPS Writer and go to Insert > Picture to place the image into your document.
2. Access the Caption tool: Right-click the image and select 'Insert Caption', or navigate to the References tab and click 'Caption'.
3. Apply alphabetical numbering: Click on 'Numbering', select the 'A, B, C' format from the dropdown, type your custom text next to the label, and click 'OK' to apply.

Easily change caption numbering to alphabetical (A, B, C) or custom formatsFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) document standardsFree, lightweight, and features a familiar user interfaceAutomatically updates all caption sequencing when adding or deleting images

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I include the chapter letter in my figure caption?

Yes. In the Caption Numbering dialog box, check the 'Include chapter number' box. Select the Heading style applied to your chapter title and choose a separator (such as a hyphen or period) to display formats like 'Figure A-A'.

How do I update all alphabetical captions if I insert a new picture in the middle of the document?

To refresh the sequence, select all text in your document by pressing Ctrl + A, right-click any caption, and select 'Update Field' (or press F9). All your A, B, C captions will automatically re-sequence.

Why is the caption text not staying with my image on the next page?

This happens when the image and caption are not properly anchored. Ensure your image's text wrapping is set to 'In Line with Text', or select both the image and the caption, right-click, and group them together.

Document & File Issues