01Step 1: Apply heading styles to your headings
Word builds the table of contents from heading styles, so the headings have to be tagged first.
- Click a chapter title and choose Heading 1 in the Styles group on the Home tab.
- Use Heading 2 for subsections and Heading 3 for sub-subsections.
- Keep body text in the Normal style. Do not make body text a heading just to change how it looks.
Tip To change how headings look, right-click the style (for example Heading 1) and choose Modify. Every Heading 1 in the document updates at once.
02Step 2: Insert the table of contents
- Put the cursor where the table should go, usually on its own page after the cover.
- Go to References, then Table of Contents, then choose Automatic Table 1 or 2.
- For only two levels, pick Custom Table of Contents and set Show levels to 2.
03Step 3: Update it after every change
The table does not refresh itself while you type.
- Click the table, then press Update Table (or right-click and choose Update Field).
- Choose Update page numbers only if the text did not change, or Update entire table if headings were edited.
Tip Update the table one last time before you print, export to PDF or send the file. Wrong page numbers in a table of contents are easy for a reader to spot.
04Fixing common problems
- A body paragraph appears in the table: it has a heading style or an outline level set. Select it, open Paragraph, and set the outline level to Body Text.
- A heading is missing: it was never given a heading style. Apply one and update the table.
- "Error! Bookmark not defined": a heading the table pointed to was deleted. Update the entire table.
- Dotted leaders are gone: open Custom Table of Contents and set Tab leader to the dotted line.
Q&AFAQ
Does this work on Word for Mac?
Yes. The ribbon is the same: References, then Table of Contents. Updating is Control-click on the table, then Update Field.
Can I do the same thing in Google Docs?
Yes. Apply Heading 1 and Heading 2 styles, then use Insert, then Table of contents. Click the refresh icon beside it after edits.
Where should the table of contents go?
Usually after the cover page and abstract, before the first chapter. Follow your school or journal template if it specifies a position.
Rather have it done for you?
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