Insert and Overtype

While creating your document, you may find you need to insert text—place new text between existing characters. For example, you type the sentence, "Joe has a large boat." After typing it, you decide you want to change the sentence to, "Joe has a large blue boat." With Microsoft Word, you can insert a character, a word, a phrase, or even several paragraphs.

Alternatively, you may find you need to change text you have typed. For example, you type the sentence, "Joe has a large blue boat." After typing it, you decide you want to change the sentence to "Joe has a large gray boat." With Microsoft Word, you can overtype—replace old text with new text.

Insert

1. Place the insertion point where you want to insert text.
2. Type the new text.

Overtype

1. Select the text you want to overtype.
2. Type the new text.

I do not want to be able to select text and then overtype. What should I do?

1) Choose the File tab. A menu appears along the left side of the window. 2) Click Options. The Word Options dialog box opens. A menu appears along the left side of the dialog box. 3) Choose Advanced. 4)In the Editing Options section, uncheck Typing Replaces Selected Text. 5) Click OK. Word closes the Word Options dialog box. You will no longer be able to select text and then overtype.

Tip

Right-click the status bar and check Overtype to place the Insert/Overtype button on the status bar. You can then use the Insert/Overtype button to toggle between Insert mode and Overtype mode. In Insert mode, when you type, you insert text. In Overtype mode, when you type, you overtype text.

Note to the Reader: When I tested this tip—sometimes it worked; sometimes it did not work.