How to Insert Figure Captions and Table Titles in Microsoft Word (PC and Mac) [UPDATED]

[@erinwrightwriting]

All the steps shown here are listed with images on my website at erinwrightwriting.com/insert-figure-captions-in-microsoft-word/. Thank you for watching!

[@tashasamkough7307]

I had to browse through so many searches before finding this video, and I'm SO GLAD to have stumbled upon your page. Very resourceful. Subscribed instantly!

[@erinwrightwriting]

Welcome to my channel! I am delighted to have you here!

[@mateoguillermocabezasgrand8971]

I have been looking for this kind of video tutorials for 4 weeks and yours is just as clear and easy as it can be. Thank you very much and please keep making useful content like this!

[@erinwrightwriting]

I really appreciate your kind words! Thank you so much for watching!

[@ethelkaimila5345]

You saved my life madam. The guidance is simple and very clear

[@erinwrightwriting]

I appreciate your kind words! I wish you all the best with your Word project!

[@BrokenSofa]

This is awesome, thank you so very much!

[@erinwrightwriting]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@tazamKhan]

Thank you for guidance 😊🥰

[@erinwrightwriting]

You are most welcome! Thank you for watching! 😊

[@watchmedo635]

Thank you very much Erin!

[@erinwrightwriting]

Thank you very much for watching!

[@user-el1ek7fo2o]

Thanks, helped a lot

[@erinwrightwriting]

I am so glad that it helped! Thank you for watching!

[@manpreetmann2834]

Thank you!

[@erinwrightwriting]

Thank you for watching!

[@HoustonCanuck]

Question: I know how to add a typical list of figures, but my document has over 150 tables under different main headings. In my main TOC i have the sections all organized properly, but in the list of tables the all are combined in one huge list. Is there a way I can add the main section headings where the tables live and have it show up like it does in the main TOC?

[@erinwrightwriting]

Thank you for watching! That is an excellent question. Unfortunately, I am not currently aware of a way to automatically include the headings in a list of tables. You can manually edit the list to include the headings--but not until your document is finished because otherwise the edits will disappear every time you update the list. If I find a solution, I will be sure to post something about it. Thanks again for watching!

[@carloshidalgo3354]

I have a Figure (a Gantt Chart), which I have placed rotate it (-90deg) in a vertical page. Now I would like to add a caption to this Figure (at its right side, centered and also rotate it -90deg) so the caption matches the orientation the Figure.
Hope I made myself clear enough to get some help :)
Thank you!

[@erinwrightwriting]

Great question! If you copy the figure caption into a text box (Insert > Text Box), you can then rotate and position the text box next to the figure. Thank you for watching!

[@carloshidalgo3354]

Worked out smoothly 🎉! Thanks!!

[@al.theofanidis]

Hello Erin! Great video. What if i want the first Figure of the document to be defined not as Figure 1 but as Figure 13 and then automatically the next figure numbers turn into 14,15 etc. Is there any way to define the starting number?

[@erinwrightwriting]

Great question! Unfortunately, Word doesn't provide an easy way to start numbering captions from anything other than 1. One solution is to create them manually using the Caption style in the Styles menu in the Home tab. Another more complicated option, is to rewrite the Field Codes for the captions. I found this online discussion outlining the process: superuser.com/questions/999823/how-to-modify-the-start-number-for-caption-numbering-word-2013. I can't guarantee it will work, but it might be worth a try. I wish you all the best with your Word project!

[@veg2890]

Hi Erin. What if you have figures in word document and in the appendix. How to number them to align

[@erinwrightwriting]

Thank you so much for watching! Can you provide a bit more detail about how you would like the numbers to align?

[@luisportilla467]

Hi, I have written a whole document captioning equations with the label "Equation". How can I change the label name from "Equation" to "Eq." without having to modify manually hundreds of captions?

[@luisportilla467]

I think I got it using replace "Equation" with format Caption into "Eq."

[@erinwrightwriting]

Great, I am glad you got it! I wish you all the best with your Word project!

[@patricktheut6120]

did not really help me with my Mac and 365. under list of tables i cannot get an error of No table of figures entries found.. whats up?

[@erinwrightwriting]

I am sorry to hear that you are having trouble. That error message normally occurs when someone is trying to create a table of figures but they only have tables in their document. Could that be the case?

[@Gitasharma-vb2uz]

Hlo, Will you please help me. How can I write the caption for multiple figures in the word file, for example Fig.1 Representation..... : a Case 1 for the...... b Case 2 for the................. c Case 3 for the.

[@erinwrightwriting]

Thank you for watching! For clarification, do you want to create a list of multiple figures?

[@tanayabasuroy5013]

I have ticked on 'include chapter number' while inserting figure captions and selected thr option 'chapter number starts with heading 1'. Unfortunately, it didn't include the actual chapter number for the figure captions but the section number under which I had inserted the figures. My chapter name is of style 'title' and is in the first page of my document. Can you tell me how to make that number appear in the captions and not the section number?

[@erinwrightwriting]

Thank you for watching! I am sorry you are having this issue. Just to clarify, did you create your own numbering scheme using the Multi-level list function? (I ask because the Title style usually isn't included in heading numbers automatically.)

[@tanayabasuroy5013]

@@erinwrightwriting thanks for replying! No.. I had opted for a default multilevel list. Is there a way to make the title style appear in the 'chapter starts with' drop down menu? Also, could you tell me if it's possible to add new styles (such as, a customized used defined style or title style etc) to the TOC, in addition to the usual heading styles format?

[@erinwrightwriting]

@@tanayabasuroy5013 Thank you for the clarification. Without creating a custom multilevel list, I am not aware of a way to make the Title style appear as a heading level in the "Chapter starts with" drop-down if you are also using a regular heading level 1. However, I do have a tutorial on adding numbers to headings that you may find helpful (ua-cam.com/video/SDskGKeRA7c/v-deo.html) as well as one on creating custom heading styles separate from the defaults: ua-cam.com/video/YajH_pmZbJ8/v-deo.html. I wish you all the best with your project!

[@stuartpeters9108]

I have followed this but in the list of figures I get the entire figure legend appearing. So rather than just say "Figure 1.1 Title." I get "Figure 1.1 Title. Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah". Do you know how this be stopped?

[@erinwrightwriting]

Thank you for watching! One solution is to insert a Style Separator after the title within each caption (in the text, not the list). Insert your cursor after the title and then press Enter to create a regular paragraph break. Press your back arrow (not Backspace) to move your cursor back to the end of the title. And then, press Ctrl + Alt + Enter to insert the Style Separator. The lines should go back together. Finally, update your List of Figures as you normally would. I wish you all the best with your Word project!

[@Fitnesseuphonium]

There is no insert caption when I right click!!! Help

[@erinwrightwriting]

Thank you for watching! Which version of Word are you using?

[@BrokenSofa]

you have to select the figure by left clicking on it. Once it's selected you can right click and the insert caption option shows up