ENT2001: How to Use the AutoCorrect Feature in Entourage

The AutoCorrect feature in Entourage corrects common editing errors as you type text in messages or in other items. This article describes how to use the AutoCorrect feature.

This section discusses the following topics:

• Basic AutoCorrect features
• How to control the AutoCorrect feature
• How to extend the AutoCorrect feature with Word
• How to use the AutoFormat feature as you type

Basic AutoCorrect Features

How to Correct Two Initial, Capital Letters

The AutoCorrect feature normalizes capital letters at the beginning of sentences when you do not release the SHIFT key before you type the second letter.

Capitalize the First Letter of Sentences

Based on the placement of periods (.) with a trailing single space, the AutoCorrect feature capitalizes the first letter of the next word.

Capitalize the First Letter of Days

The AutoCorrect feature recognizes the days of the week as needing to be capitalized.

Replace Text as You Type

The AutoCorrect feature recognizes misspellings and corrects them as you type. For this option to work, you must install Microsoft Word.

How to Control the AutoCorrect Feature

To change the default settings for the AutoCorrect feature:

1. On the Tools menu, click AutoCorrect.
2. Either click to clear or click to select the check boxes for the settings that you want to change.
3. Click OK.

How to Extend the AutoCorrect Feature with Word

To use the "Replace Text as You Type" option with the AutoCorrect feature, you must have Word installed on your computer. Word includes an extensive AutoCorrect list. You can add words to this list in Word, and the new entries are also used by Entourage.

For more information about how to add words to the AutoCorrect list, click the Office Assistant, type AutoCorrect, click Search, and then click a topic to view it.

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar.

How to Use the AutoFormat Feature as You Type

The AutoFormat feature can replace certain actions with styled attributes as you type. This feature is available only in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) formatted items. The following functions are available with this feature:

• Automatic bulleted lists – Creates a bullet when you type a hyphen (-) and then press the TAB key. If you press ENTER to advance to a new line, the bulleted list is continued. If you press ENTER twice, the bulleted list is completed.
• Automatic numbers – Formats a numbered list based on the initial number that you manually type. For example, if you type the number one (1), a period (.), and then you press the TAB key, the AutoFormat feature begins a numbered list. When you press ENTER, the next number in list is automatically added; when you press ENTER twice, the list is completed.
• Straight Quotes with Smart Quotes – When you type quotation marks, the AutoFormat feature replaces typographic-style quotation marks, often referred to as "curly" quotation marks.
• Symbol characters with symbols – When you type a single hyphen (-), the AutoFormat feature replaces this character with a typographic-style en dash. If you type two hyphens (--), an em dash is substituted.
• *Bold* and _Italic_ with real formatting – When you type an asterisk (*) character or an underscore (_) character on either side or a word or phrase, the AutoFormat feature replaces these characters with the actual style formatting.