ARCHIVED: In Microsoft Word, why is the text after the cursor being deleted as I type?

This content has been archived, and is no longer maintained by Indiana University. Information here may no longer be accurate, and links may no longer be available or reliable.

In Microsoft Word, if the text just after your cursor is being deleted as you type, Overwrite mode is enabled. To turn this option off, follow one of these steps:

Press the Insert or Ins key on the keyboard.
In Windows, double-click the OVR indicator that appears at the bottom of your document's window. When you turn the Overwrite option off, the OVR indicator will become grayed out.
In Mac OS X, single-click the OVR icon that appears at the bottom of your document's window. When you turn the Overwrite option off, the OVR icon will change from green (Overwrite on) to blank (Overwrite off).
Note: In Mac OS X, you may need to widen the window to see the OVR icon.

To return to Overwrite mode, simply repeat the steps above.

Note: In Word 2007 for Windows and Word 2008 for Mac OS X, Overwrite mode is disabled by default.

To turn on the ability to enter Overwrite mode for Word 2007, from the Office Button menu, select Word Options, and then Advanced. Then, select Use the Insert key to control overtype mode.

To turn on Overwrite mode for Word 2008, from the Word menu, select Preferences. Click the Edit icon, check the box for Overtype mode, and then click OK.