Office 2021: How can I hide the 'Table of Contents' heading?

[Jamal NUMAN]

Office 2021: How can I hide the 'Table of Contents' heading?

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I couldn't figure out if there is a way to hide the 'Table of Contents' heading or if the best practice is simply to delete it.

[Charles Kenyon]

I modified your post to make it more readable.

Is your question that you do not want the Table of Contents heading formatted in the TOC Heading Style to show up in your Table of Contents?

If so, modify the TOC Heading Styles so that it is Body Text level, not Level 1.

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Your TOC field is choosing to include level 1 and your TOC Heading is set as Level 1 because it is based on Heading 1.

You could use another Style for the heading.

You could use a Custom Table of Contents that does not have heading that comes with it, type your own and format as you choose so long as it does not have an outline level.

Outlining in Microsoft Word

[Charles Kenyon]

If you want the TOC Heading in the Navigation Pane, but not in the TOC itself, you need to have it in a style that does have an Outline Level 1.
You need to have the TOC set for styles and NOT set to get outline levels.

[Jamal NUMAN]

Despite the "outline level" of the "TOC Heading" style being set to "body text," it still remains visible
The docx file is attached

[Italophile]

The TOC Heading appears because you chose to insert one of the built-in TOC's which include the TOC heading, and are clearly shown as doing so in the preview images.
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As the TOC Heading is only text it can simply be deleted. Alternatively, you can insert a Custom Table of Contents which will just insert the TOC field.

[Jamal NUMAN]

What is the best practice for removing the space that remains at the top of the first item in the TOC?

[Italophile]

Just delete the paragraph.

[Charles Kenyon]

Originally Posted by Jamal NUMAN

What is the best practice for removing the space that remains at the top of the first item in the TOC?

Look to the paragraph formatting! It is in the Style you are applying. (Title at Preface)

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[Jamal NUMAN]

Many thanks for the help. It works fine