Disabling Smart Tags

Some users find smart tags can get in the way of work. As a solution, smart tags may be disabled selectively, or they may be disabled entirely. To turn off a smart tag, follow these steps: To disable Smart Tags entirely, follow these steps:

Word 2003

Word 2007

What Are Smart Tags in Word?

Microsoft Word 2003 or 2007 can identify certain types of data in a document, such as an address or phone number, and apply a smart tag to it. The smart tag is indicated by a purple underline of the identified data text, and it allows you to use additional features related to the tagged text. If you place your mouse pointer over the text, a small box labeled with an “i” appears. Clicking on this box will open a menu of possible smart tag actions that Word can perform based on the data. For example, a smart tagged address gives you the option to add the address to your Outlook contacts. This saves you from having to select and copy the address, open Outlook, and then follow the process of creating a new contact.

Smart Tags Deprecated in Later Versions of Word

Smart tags were not included in Word 2010 and later versions of the software. Data is no longer automatically recognized and identified with a purple dotted underline in these later versions. Recognition and smart tag actions, however, can still be triggered. Select the data in the document, such as an address or phone number, and right-click on it. In the context menu, move your mouse down to Additional Actions. A secondary menu will slide out offering more actions.