Word: Number headings - how to do it

To get a better overview of your text documents, it is recommended to number the contained headings. What procedure is necessary for numbering and how you can subsequently use the headings to create a table of contents, you will learn in this article.

How to number headings in Word

Even with longer text documents that you create with Word, the use of headings is important to structure the text. Additionally, it is also recommended to number the headings for better order. This is also handy if you want to use the automatic table of contents feature offered by Word.

1. To number all your headings in Word, first select a heading and choose the "Heading 1" entry under "Start" > "Styles" to format a first-level heading.
2. To format a heading as a second-level heading, please choose the "Heading 2" style instead.
3. In the "Paragraph" area, then click the arrow next to the third icon for multi-level lists and select the desired numbering style.

How to use the numbered headings for a table of contents

Once you have formatted the headings in your Word document as headings and inserted numbering, you can then use them to create a table of contents. To create a table of contents, place your cursor on the page where you want to insert the directory. Then navigate to "References" > "Table of Contents" and select one of the available templates.