If MS Word Table of Contents refuses to remove dot or any leaders


When you create in Word a table of contents there is an option to connect chapter titles and page numbers with leaders. Selecting “none,” i.e. no leaders at all, dot or any type of leaders, will put just empty spaces between titles and numbers, forming a cleaner table of contents.

Sometimes Word seems to refuse this option, placing always leaders, even if you select the “none” option. This may happen especially if you are re-creating a table of contents that previously had leaders or other customizations.

To discard the leaders put your mouse on an entry with leaders and modify its style.

You will be surprised to see in the “Tabs” section that there is defined a tab stop with leaders. In that dialogue select “none,” and enjoy!