WD2000: Auto Numbering Changes by One After You Press ENTER (211590)

SYMPTOMS

If you manually type a numbering scheme followed by text, so that the Automatic Numbered Lists feature is invoked, the number you type automatically changes by one if numbering previous to this item was within plus or minus one of the number you just typed.

NOTE: To turn on the Automatic Numbered Lists feature, on the Tools menu, click AutoCorrect, click the AutoFormat As You Type tab, and click to select the Automatic numbered lists check box.

CAUSE

This functionality is by design. After you type a number, AutoCorrect looks backward through the document for the closest numbered list. If it finds a numbered list in which the last item is numbered plus or minus one from the number you just typed, Word changes the number you just typed so that it becomes the next item in the list.

This allows you to add an item to an existing list by guessing close to the correct number without needing to know the exact next number in the sequence.

WORKAROUND

To prevent the number from attaching to the previous list, press CTRL+Z on the keyboard to undo the automatic formatting.

To adjust the numbering so that it creates a new numbering scheme, follow these steps:

Position the insertion point on the line you want to number.
On the Format menu, click Bullets And Numbering.
Click the Numbered tab, and then click the numbering scheme you want.
Click Customize.
In the Start At box, adjust the starting number, and then make any other changes you want.
Click OK.

You now have a second numbered list that is not connected to the first numbered list.

REFERENCES

For more information about numbered lists, click Microsoft Word Help on the Help menu, type numbered lists in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.