Identify the text that you want to appear in the Table of Contents
In your document, click within the first major heading that you want to appear in the Table of Contents. Apply the Heading 1 style to that paragraph. The easiest way to apply the Heading 1 style is:- in Word 2003 and earlier: click the Style box on the Formatting toolbar and choose Heading 1
- in Word 2007 and Word 2010: on the Home tab, in the Styles group, click the Heading 1 thumbnail.
In the same way, apply the Heading 1 style to other major headings in your document. Apply the Heading 2 style to sub-headings, Heading 3 style to sub-sub-headings etc.
If you don't like the way the heading styles look (eg, you want a different font or font size or colour), don't format the text directly. Instead, modify the heading styles.