In Word 2007, I can paste “www.msofficeforums.com/” as unformatted text, select the pasted string, right-click and choose “Hyperlink…”
The hyperlink is created AS IS without “http://” in front. But when I click that hyperlink from within Word, I am told that it is not a valid URL… Catch-22!
If I enter “www.msofficeforums.com/” in the Microsoft Edge Address Bar, it is automatically changed into “https://www.msofficeforums.com/”. Same thing with Internet Explorer 11.
Only Google Chrome and Firefox reluctantly accept to display the short version of “www.msofficeforums.com/”. But it is obviously converted to the canonical version in the background (the screen tip in the status bar always reads “https://www.msofficeforums.com/”).

Note that you can turn off automatic hyperlinks in the Word Options (Proofing > AutoCorrect Options > AutoFormat As You Type > uncheck "Internet and network paths with hyperlinks").