Detailed Guide on How to Find and Replace in Word? (2024)

Find and replace in Word is an effective feature that allows one to automatically search a particular term and then switch it to a new one. This way, they get to change certain items without having to read through the entire write-up. However, since there are several tabs and menus on the interface, individuals might end up thinking about how to find words and replace them in Word.

To solve this query and to assist you with the same, we have provided effortless ways to make use of the Find Replace in Word feature. So be with us till the end to understand how to find and replace in Word.

Find and Replace in Word Using Replace Command on Windows

Microsoft provides several utilities in their interface to better their users’ navigation and overall experience; one such feature is the where users can search and edit certain terms automatically in the content. To further assist you with the query, we have described how to use the Find & Replace feature in Word on a Windows device. 

1. Go to the Microsoft Word document and ensure you are on the Home menu. 

   

2. In the extreme right corner, find and click on Replace. 

   

3. Fill both the Find What and Replace With fields with appropriate words.

   

4. At last, hit Replace to replace the words. 

   

Using these steps, you can search and switch any word in MS Word. However, if you are a macOS user, then the default location of this feature wouldn’t be the same. To alternate terms in Word on macOS devices, keep scrolling!

How to Find and Replace in Word on a Mac Device?

Despite MS Word being a broad platform that can be accessed similarly across numerous operating systems, it doesn’t mean that the placement of its features remains that way as well. For this reason, in this part, we have shed light on the simplest way to find and replace in Word on macOS.

1. On a Mac device, open MS Word and tap Edit. 

   

2. In this drop-down menu, hit Find.

   

3. Here, choose the option of Replace, amongst others.

   

4. A table will appear on the left side. In that menu, fill up both boxes with Find and Replace, respectively. 

   

5. Once done with filling the fields, press Replace All and Replace.

   

6. After the entire process is completed, simply hit OK. 

   

Efficient Way to Find and Replace Symbols in MS Word

Did you make multiple special character typos while writing your document, and now you want to switch them all? Stay with us, as here we have thrown light on the matter. 

1. Go to the Find and Replace box, and tap to More>>. 

   

   Upon clicking, you will get this menu. Here, you can choose Special.

   

3. Several options will pop up, among which you can choose a symbol you want. 

   

4. At last, hit Replace or Replace All. 

   

This way, you can replace symbols easily in your content on any MS Word document. 

Are you wondering what these options under the More >> categories stand for? If so, then you are in luck, as we have answered your query in the upcoming part.

What Do the Advanced Options in Find and Replace in Word Have to Offer?

There are more options for formatting and effortless integration of finding and replacing terms in Microsoft Word. In this section, we have highlighted what these options mean. 

Meaning of each term:

TERM	MEANING
1. Match Case	The word will be pasted in the same case, meaning with exact capitalization and position.
	For example,  If you find the word “Hi” for “hey”, then automatically it will make the text “Hey”
2. Find whole words only	A selective part of the word will be changed.
	For Example,  In case you have used both cat and cats in your material and you want to replace cat for meow.   After putting the command, only cat will be replaced to meow, and cats will remain the same as is.
3. Use wildcards:	This option can assist in finding similar words and actions in the content.
	For Example,  Use a star (*) to match numbers of characters. Meaning, if you put a command for “th*”, then it will list all the words starting with “th”.
4. Sounds like (English)	Using this selection, one can find everything with the same sound in the article.
	For Example,  In the find field, write “hear” and it will give results like hear.
5. Find all word forms (English)	With this option, you will get all the different terms of the same word.
	For Example,  If you write “Sleep” in the find section, your result will show “sleeping, and slept”.
6. Match prefix	A prefix is the starting part/ letters of any word.
	For Example,  If the word is Reading, then the prefix is “Re” and the command will help you find everything with “Re” in the beginning.
7. Match suffix	A suffix is the ending part letters of any word.
	For Example,  If the word is Playing, then the suffix is “ing” and the command will help you find all the words with “ing” in the ending.
8. Ignore punctuation characters	By using this option, you can see all the words without any punctuation in them.
	For Example,  When you put “wont” in the dialogue box, it will also recognize “won’t”.
9. Ignore white-space characters	Recognizes words with space between them.
	For Example,  If you write “college professor” in the space, then it will recognize words like “collegeprofessor”.

Other than this, there is a search option that allows the users to have a more refined search. They can use this by putting a cursor at a single point in the write-up, and it will take the search above the pointer or below it. This means,

• With the Down option, the content below the cursor will be reflected.
• By selecting the Up option, all the content above the pointer will be analyzed.
• Upon selecting All, the entire write-up is reviewed.

There is one more way of switching the words in MS Word without the function of find replace in Word. Scroll down to the subsequent section to learn about that feature. 

Manual Method for Switching Terms Without Find-Replace in Word

Another efficient way to switch words without using the feature for Find-Replace in Word is by manually going over the material and one by one changing the words with a certain keyboard feature for the same. Here is how you can do it!

1. On your keyboard, press this command. 

   

2. Upon hitting the shortcuts, a tab will appear on the left side. Here, write the word you want to target. 

   

3. Using the Up and Down signs, you can navigate around the content. 

   

4. The word will start showing up in the content, and you can easily change the terms. 

   

Wrapping Up

The find and replace in Word is a helpful feature as it allows emitting mistakes that one makes while creating content. Using our mentioned steps, you can count on navigating with incredible ease. However, you can also use the simple manual way to switch words in the document with the help of the Ctrl + F command.