Word processing software, by default, will automatically capitalize the first word of a sentence. If, for some reason, you don’t want your word processor to do this, you can simply turn off automatic capitalization for your word processor. You’ll be glad to know that Google Docs has the option to turn off auto capitalization, so that you have complete liberty to choose which words to capitalize in your document.
Auto capitalization is a useful feature of word processors that instantly fixes incorrect capitalization as you type a document. It also helps you type your document faster. Instead of constantly tapping the Shift key to capitalize the first letter of each sentence, you can take advantage of auto capitalization to convert them to uppercase letters automatically. This saves you a great deal of time and effort especially if you are working on a lengthy document under time constraints.
However, there are instances where auto capitalization is unnecessary. For example, if you are writing a poem that doesn’t need to have the first word capitalized, then you can turn off auto capitalization in Google Docs or Microsoft Word. Or perhaps you don’t want your word processor to automatically capitalize the words as a matter of preference.
Fortunately, turning off automatic capitalization in Google Docs is as easy as pie. It takes only a few seconds to disable it and even quicker to enable it.
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How to Turn off Auto Capitalization on the Google Docs Website
First, open the Google Docs website on your browser. Google Docs is a web-based word processor and is free for everyone who has a Google account.
Step 1: Click “Tools”
Open a Google Docs document and then click “Tools” on the toolbar at the top of the screen.
Step 2: Click “Preferences”
On the dropdown menu, click “Preferences.”
Step 3: Uncheck “Automatically capitalize words”
On the Preferences dialog, uncheck the box for “Automatically capitalize words” and then click “OK” to apply your changes.
That’s it! You have successfully turned off auto capitalization in Google Docs. From now on, the first word of each sentence will no longer be automatically capitalized. If you want to re-enable auto capitalization, just navigate to Tools > Preferences and then check the box for “Automatically capitalize words.”
To summarize, these are the steps to turn off auto capitalization in Google Docs:
- Open a Google Docs document and click “Tools” on the toolbar at the top.
- On the dropdown menu, click “Preferences.”
- Uncheck the box for “Automatically capitalize words.”
- Click “OK” to apply your changes.
How to Turn Off Auto Capitalization on the Google Docs App
Unfortunately, the Google Docs mobile app does not have the option to turn off auto capitalization. However, you can configure the keyboard settings of your device to disable auto capitalization in Google Docs and other applications.
On Android
Follow these steps to turn off automatic capitalization in Android:
- Open the Settings app
- Tap “System Settings.”
- Select “Keyboard and input method” (or similar).
- Choose the virtual keyboard application that you’re currently using. On Android devices, it’s most likely Gboard.
- Tap “Text Correction.”
- Toggle off “Auto-capitalization.”
Take note that when you turn off auto capitalization in Android settings, it will be applied to all applications including chat and messaging apps, not only Google Docs.
On iOS (iPhone and iPad)
Here’s how to turn off automatic capitalization on the iPhone and iPad:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap “General.”
- Select “Keyboard.”
- Toggle off “Auto-Capitalization.”
Just like on Android, disabling auto capitalization on iOS will apply to all your mobile apps. You may enable automatic capitalization again after you’re done working in Google Docs.
Parting Words
There’s no doubt that automatic capitalization is a helpful and practical feature that saves you a lot of time when typing your papers and documents. Nevertheless, auto capitalization is not applicable to every scenario so it’s perfectly fine to turn it off. Whether it’s a temporary measure or a permanent solution, you can easily disable this feature in Google Docs to suit your needs and personal preference.
