Formatting Issues

How to Change the Punctuation Before 'See Also' in a Word Index

Tauseeq Magsi Oct 9, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to replace the default comma with a period before 'See also' cross-references in a Microsoft Word index.

How to Change the Punctuation Before 'See Also' in a Word Index

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting a generated index for a document where specific punctuation rules apply to cross-references.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word automatically inserts a comma before 'See also' cross-references and lacks a built-in setting or field code switch to modify this delimiter to a period.

Before you start

Before modifying your index punctuation manually, ensure your document text is completely finalized and all index entries are correctly tagged, as updating the index later will overwrite any manual formatting changes.

Solution 1Recommended

Manually Edit the Generated Index

Since Word lacks a built-in setting for this specific delimiter, the most direct approach is to manually change the punctuation after generating your final index.

Microsoft Word hardcodes the comma delimiter into its index generation process. To achieve the desired formatting, you must edit the text as a final step before publishing or printing.

Generate the final index

Navigate to the 'References' tab and click 'Insert Index' to build your document's index based on your current XE tags.

Locate the cross-references

Scroll through the newly generated index and identify the 'See also' entries that contain the unwanted comma.

Replace the punctuation

Highlight the comma before 'See also' and type a period to replace it. Alternatively, use the 'Find and Replace' tool (Ctrl+H) restricted strictly to your index section to replace ', See also' with '. See also'.

Index Updates Will Overwrite Edits: If you right-click the index and select 'Update Field' at any point, Word will regenerate the index from scratch and restore the default commas. Only perform this manual step when the document is 100% complete.

Solution 2

Use Dedicated Indexing Software

For complex documents, academic books, or recurring formatting needs, professional indexing software offers granular control over punctuation rules that Word does not.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Your Document Formatting Needs

If you are frustrated by rigid formatting limitations or complex field codes in Microsoft Word, consider switching to WPS Writer. It provides a highly compatible, intuitive, and feature-rich environment for handling professional documents without the expensive subscription fees.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a field code switch to change the index cross-reference punctuation in Word?

No, Microsoft Word's XE (Index Entry) and INDEX field codes do not feature a built-in switch or parameter to modify the delimiter preceding a cross-reference. The comma is hardcoded into Word's indexing engine.

Can I use Find and Replace to speed up changing commas to periods in my index?

Yes. You can press Ctrl+H to open Find and Replace, search for ', See also' and replace it with '. See also'. However, you must carefully select only your index text before running the tool, otherwise you risk altering punctuation in the main body of your document.

How do I prevent Word from overwriting my manual edits when I print the document?

By default, Word may automatically update all fields (including indexes) right before printing, which will erase your manual punctuation edits. To prevent this, go to File > Options > Display, and uncheck 'Update fields before printing' under the Printing Options section.

Document & File Issues