Why does it jump to new headings after each line typed?

[cyndelouwho22]

Hi there. Whenever I type a poem or a story or just about anything, when I
get to the second line (or sometimes when I'm just changing paragraphs) it
will jump to a whole different heading setting and when I set it back, there
will be a big gap and lines between where I had typed and where it will let
me type now. It's very infuriating! How can I fix this?

 

[Jay Freedman]

Hi there. Whenever I type a poem or a story or just about anything, when I
get to the second line (or sometimes when I'm just changing paragraphs) it
will jump to a whole different heading setting and when I set it back, there
will be a big gap and lines between where I had typed and where it will let
me type now. It's very infuriating! How can I fix this?

This behavior -- which indeed infuriating when you don't know where it comes
from -- is part of a supposedly helpful feature called AutoFormat As You Type.
This part sees that you've typed a short line and assumes you meant that to be a
heading, so it applies a heading style to it.

If you think this feature is actually helpful except in a few specific
instances, you can let it happen and then immediately click the Undo button
(shortcut Ctrl+Z) to undo the style change.

To turn the feature off completely, go to Tools > AutoCorrect Options >
AutoFormat As You Type (NOT the similar tab that just says AutoFormat) and
uncheck the option "Built-in heading styles".

There are other options on that dialog that are similarly annoying to most
users. Read http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/Formatting/TameAutoFormat.htm for
descriptions and recommendations.