Microsoft Word 2007: Turn on or off automatic bullets or numbering
By default, if you type an asterisk or a number 1., Word recognizes that you are trying to start a bulleted or numbered list. You can turn off the automatic list recognition feature.
Note: If you turn the feature off and create your list manually, you can't select and change the list all at once. For example, you can't select the list and change the color of all of the numbers at one time. 
1. Click the Microsoft Office Button Button image, and then click Word Options.
2. Click Proofing.
3. Click AutoCorrect Options, and then click the AutoFormat As You Type tab.
4. Under Apply as you type, select or clear the Automatic bulleted lists check box or the Automatic numbered lists check box.
SHORTCUT: The shortcut to achieve this is to click on the "lightning bolt" to the left of the number and select "Stop Automatically Creating Numbered Lists".
