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How to Add a Please Specify Field in Microsoft Forms

Natalie Taylor Sep 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to know how to allow respondents to provide custom text answers by adding a 'Please specify' or 'Other' option to a multiple-choice question.

How to Add a Please Specify Field in Microsoft Forms

Product: Microsoft Forms
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating a questionnaire or quiz that requires a custom choice input from respondents.
Observed behavior: Needs to display a custom text box when respondents select the 'Other' option.

Before you start

Log in to your Microsoft 365 account and ensure you have an existing form or quiz ready to edit, or create a new one from scratch.

Solution 1Recommended

Add an 'Other' Option to a Choice Question

Enable the built-in 'Other' option within Choice questions to automatically provide a 'Please specify' text box for custom answers.

Microsoft Forms includes a native feature to collect custom responses in multiple-choice questions. By enabling the 'Other' option, a text box will automatically appear for respondents to type out their specific answers.

Open your Form or Quiz

Navigate to Microsoft Forms and click on the form or quiz you want to edit, or click 'New Form' to start fresh.

Add a Choice Question

Click the '+ Add new' button and select 'Choice' to create a new multiple-choice question.

Enter Predefined Options

Type out the standard answer options you want to provide to your respondents in the 'Option 1', 'Option 2', etc., fields.

Enable the Custom Field

Click the 'Add "Other" option' button located at the bottom of your choices list. This inserts an 'Other' choice that expands into a text box when selected by the respondent.

Add an 'Other' Option to a Choice Question

Available in Quizzes: This feature is fully supported in both standard Microsoft Forms and Quizzes whenever you utilize the 'Choice' question type.

WPS Forms Survey Tool

Create Professional Surveys with WPS Forms

Need an intuitive way to build interactive forms and questionnaires? WPS Forms offers a powerful platform to easily collect data, add custom 'Other' fields, and seamlessly export responses.

1. Open WPS Forms: Launch WPS Office, navigate to the 'Apps' tab on the sidebar, and select 'WPS Form' to start a new survey project.
2. Choose a Template: Create a blank form or choose from a variety of free, pre-designed templates tailored specifically for surveys, polls, and quizzes.
3. Add Question Options: Click 'Add Question', select the multiple-choice format, and input your standard options.
4. Enable Custom Answers: Click 'Add Other' to instantly append a custom text box, allowing your respondents to specify their own unique answers.

Seamlessly create, edit, and share professional forms and quizzesEasily add 'Other' and custom text fields to multiple-choice questionsFully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx) for exporting form dataLightweight, fast, and free to use across multiple platforms

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make the 'Please specify' text box mandatory?

Yes. If you toggle the 'Required' switch at the bottom of the Choice question in Microsoft Forms, respondents must select an option. If they choose 'Other', they will be forced to type a response in the text box before they can submit the form.

Why can't I see the 'Add Other' option in my quiz?

The 'Add Other' option is exclusive to the 'Choice' (multiple-choice) question type. Ensure you have not accidentally selected a Text, Rating, or Date question, as these do not support the 'Other' field.

Can I rename the word 'Other' to 'Please specify'?

Currently, Microsoft Forms does not allow you to edit or rename the default 'Other' label within the choices list. However, it naturally functions as a 'Please specify' field by automatically prompting the user for text when clicked.

How will the custom 'Other' answers appear in Excel?

When you export your Microsoft Forms responses to Excel, any custom text entered in the 'Other' field will be clearly recorded in the spreadsheet under the column corresponding to that specific question.

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