Use a screen reader to insert a table in Word

Use Word with your keyboard and a screen reader to add a table to your document. We have tested it with Narrator, JAWS, and NVDA, but it might work with other screen readers as long as they follow common accessibility standards and techniques. You'll also learn how to expand your table by adding new rows or columns and format your table with the built-in table styles.

In this topic

• Insert a table by specifying dimensions
• Insert a table by selecting from built-in formats
• Add table columns or rows
• Delete columns, rows, or the whole table

Insert a table by specifying dimensions

You can specify the dimensions of a table, such as the number of columns and rows, and their height and width. Word will insert a basic grid-type table for your use.

1. Navigate to the location in your document where you want to insert the new table.

2. To open the Insert Table dialog box, press Alt+N, T, I.

3. To specify the number of columns in the table, press Alt+C, and then type the number of columns you want.

4. To specify the number of rows, press Alt+R, and then type the number of rows you want.

5. If you want to use these dimensions again in the future, press Alt+S to select the Remember dimensions for new tables checkbox.

6. To close the Insert Table dialog box, press the Tab key until you hear "OK button," and then press Enter. Word adds the table to your document.

7. To check that a header row is set up, do the following:

   1. Go to the table in your document and move to any cell. Press Alt+J, T to open the Table Design tab.
   2. Press the Tab key until you hear "Header row." If the screen reader announces that the Header row option is not selected, press Spacebar to select it. The focus moves to the table.

8. Type your information in the cells. You hear which column and row is currently selected. The screen reader also announces which cells are header cells. Use the arrow keys to move in the table.

Insert a table by selecting from built-in formats

If you want to let Word do the formatting for you, select one of its built-in formats for tables.

1. Navigate to the location in your document where you want to insert the new table.
2. To choose from built-in table formats, press Alt+N, T, T to open the Quick Tables menu.
3. Use the Up and Down arrow keys to move through the list of table formats. Press Enter to select the table you want.
   Word inserts the selected table into your document and places the focus at the top of the inserted table.
4. Type your information in the cells. Use the arrow keys to move in the table.

Add table columns or rows

You can quickly expand your table by adding more rows or columns.

1. Navigate to the location in your table where you want to add a new column or row.

2. To go to the Layout tab, press Alt+J, L, and then do one of the following:

   • To add a new row above, press A.
   • To add a new row below, press B, E.
   • To add a new column to the left, press L.
   • To add a new column to the right, press R.

Delete columns, rows, or the whole table

If a column, row, or the whole table is no longer needed, delete it from your document.

1. Open your document, and then go to the table, column, or row you want to delete. When the focus is in your table, you'll hear confirmation, such as “Enter table 1.” When the focus moves off the table, you'll hear that you have left the table.

2. To open the Delete menu item on the Layout tab, press Alt+J, L, D, and then do one of the following:

   • To delete the entire table, press T.
   • To delete the current column, press C.
   • To delete the current row, press R.

The table, column, or row is deleted, and the focus returns to the document.

See also

Use a screen reader to check spelling and grammar in Word

Use a screen reader to create charts in Word

Keyboard shortcuts in Word

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Word

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Word

Use Word for the web with your keyboard and a screen reader to add a table to your document. We have tested it with Narrator in Microsoft Edge and JAWS and NVDA in Chrome, but it might work with other screen readers and web browsers as long as they follow common accessibility standards and techniques. You'll also learn how to expand your table by adding new rows or columns and format your table with the built-in table styles.

In this topic

• Insert a table
• Add table columns or rows
• Format a table using a built-in table style
• Add alternative text to a table
• Delete columns, rows, or the whole table

Insert a table

1. Move to the location in your document where you want to insert the new table.
2. To open the Table menu, press Alt+Windows logo key+N, N, T.
3. To specify and select the number of columns and rows in the table, press Shift+arrow keys. You hear the number of selected rows and columns.
4. To insert the table with the selected dimensions, press Enter.
5. To set up a header row, go to any cell in the table. Press Alt+Windows logo key+J, J, T, and then press O to open the Style Options menu item. You hear “Header row," and whether it is selected. If the header row is not selected, press Spacebar to select. 
   If the screen reader announces that the Header Row option is already selected, you can proceed to edit your table.
6. The focus moves to the new table. Use the arrow keys to move in the body of the table.
7. Type your information in the cells. You hear which column and row is currently selected, and which cells are header cells.

Add table columns or rows

You can quickly expand your table by adding more rows or columns.

1. Move inside the table, and then use the arrow keys to navigate inside the table to find the place where you want to add a new row or column.

2. Press Alt+Windows logo key+J, J, T, I. The Insert menu item opens.

3. Do one of the following:

   • To add a row above the current row, press A.
   • To add a row below the current row, press B, E.
   • To add a column to the left of the current column, press L.
   • To add a column to the right of the current column, press R.

   The focus moves to the document body, inside the table.

Format a table using a built-in table style

If you want to let Word for the web do the table formatting for you, select one of its built-in styles for tables.

1. Move to any cell inside the table you want to format.
2. To open the Table Styles menu, press Alt+Windows logo key+J, J, T, S
3. Use the arrow keys to browse through the styles. The screen reader announces the name of each style as you land on it.
4. To choose and apply a built-in table style, press Enter. The focus moves to the document body, inside the table.

Add alternative text to a table

To make a table accessible for a wider audience, add alternative text to it.

1. Move to any cell inside the table to which you want to add alternative text.
2. Press Alt+Windows logo key+J, J, T, E. The Alternative Text dialog box opens. The focus is on the Title text field.
3. Type a descriptive title for the table.
4. Press the Tab key. The focus moves to the Description text field.
5. Type a description of the table.
6. Once you're done, press the Tab key until you hear "OK button." With Narrator and NVDA, press Enter to close the dialog box. With JAWS, press Spacebar.

Delete columns, rows, or the whole table

If a column, row, or the whole table is no longer needed, delete it from your document.

1. Go to the table, column, or row you want to delete.

2. To open the Delete menu item on the Table tab, press Alt+Windows logo key+J, J, T, D, and then do one of the following:

   • To delete the entire table, press D, T. 
   • To delete the current column, press D, C. 
   • To delete the current row, press D, R. 

The table, column, or row is deleted, and the focus returns to the document.

See also

Use a screen reader to insert and change text in Word

Use a screen reader to insert a picture or image in Word

Keyboard shortcuts in Word

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Word

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Word