Office Settings & Configuration

How to Stop Word from Capitalizing the First Letter in Table Cells

WPS Editor Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to prevent Word from automatically capitalizing the first letter of text typed into table cells.

How to Stop Word from Capitalizing the First Letter in Table Cells

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Typing lowercase text into a Word document table where all entries must remain lowercase.
Observed behavior: Word automatically changes the first lowercase letter to uppercase in specific table cells against the user's preference.

Before you start

Ensure your document is saved before making global changes to your Word settings. It is also helpful to test these adjustments on a blank table to confirm they are working properly.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Table Cell AutoCorrect Settings

Modify Word's AutoCorrect options to turn off automatic capitalization globally for table cells.

By default, Microsoft Word assumes that text entered into a new table cell should be treated like the start of a new sentence. Changing this behavior in the Proofing settings will permanently stop the automatic capitalization until you choose to re-enable it.

Open Word Options

Go to the 'File' tab in the ribbon and select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.

Access Proofing Settings

Click on 'Proofing' in the left pane, then click the 'AutoCorrect Options' button.

Disable Table Cell Capitalization

In the AutoCorrect tab, clear the checkbox next to 'Capitalize first letter of table cells'.

Disable Sentence Capitalization (Optional)

If you also want to stop standard sentence capitalization within the cells, uncheck 'Capitalize first letter of sentences'.

Apply the Changes

Click 'OK' twice to save your settings and return to your document.

Settings Applied: Word will now leave your lowercase entries exactly as you type them in table cells.

Solution 2

Clear Formatting and Reset Templates

If the AutoCorrect setting is already disabled but capitalization still occurs, clear local formatting or reset the Word template.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Easily Manage Table Formatting with WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers full control over text formatting and AutoCorrect behavior, allowing you to seamlessly create tables without unwanted capitalization. It is highly compatible with Microsoft Word documents and provides an intuitive, user-friendly interface.

1. Open Options: Open WPS Writer, click on 'Menu' in the top-left corner, and select 'Options'.
2. Find AutoCorrect Settings: Navigate to the 'Spell Check' or 'Edit' settings in the options dialog and locate the AutoCorrect preferences.
3. Turn Off Capitalization: Disable the rule for capitalizing the first letter of table cells and click 'OK' to apply.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsEasily toggle AutoCorrect rules on or offLightweight application with fast startupFree to use with a familiar ribbon interface

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word automatically capitalize the first letter in a table?

By default, Word's AutoCorrect features are designed to treat the beginning of a table cell like the beginning of a sentence. This triggers the automatic capitalization rule to help format standard paragraphs, though it can be disabled in the Proofing options.

Can I disable capitalization for just one specific table?

AutoCorrect settings apply globally to the entire application. To prevent capitalization in a single table without changing global settings, you can press 'Ctrl + Z' (Undo) immediately after Word capitalizes the letter to revert the automatic change.

Why is my text still capitalizing after turning off the table cell setting?

If you are typing a standard sentence with punctuation, Word might be applying the 'Capitalize first letter of sentences' rule instead. You will need to disable that specific AutoCorrect option as well in the Proofing settings.

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