Microsoft Word 2004
Working with Text Options
You can format the text in your Word documents by changing the font style, size, color, character formatting, and text alignment. This document provides instructions for many different formatting options, such as experimenting with different fonts, boldfacing, and italicizing; these formatting options can give your document a unique look. For more information about formatting options, refer to Paragraph Formatting Options and Fonts Overview.
Formatting Text
Some rules to remember when formatting your text include the following:
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If you know what formatting options you want, you can enable them before you type. After you finish typing the section, you can disable them.
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When formatting text that is already typed into the document, the first step is to select it. Only selected text will take on the format that you are applying. For instructions, refer to Editing a Document: Selecting Text.
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Once the text is formatted, deselect the text by clicking away from the text or pressing an arrow key. Selected text is vulnerable and may be deleted or changed unintentionally!
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Using too many fonts, sizes, and other formatting in one document will usually cause it to look cluttered; a document with too much formatting may also be hard to read. Try to limit yourself to no more than two or three fonts, sizes, and formats per document.
Changing Font and Font Size
Word allows you to change font or font size with The Formatting Palette or Font dialog box. The Formatting Palette is an easier and faster way of changing the look of your text. However, the dialog box gives you more options for modifying your text and allows you to preview your text through the Preview box. For more information about font options, refer to Fonts Overview.
Changing Font and Font Size: Formatting Palette Option
For more information about the Formatting Palette, see the document which describes it and its most commonly used sections: The Formatting Palette.
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Select the text you want to alter
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From the Formatting Palette, under Font, from the Name pull-down list, select the desired font
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From the Size pull-down list, select the desired font size
Changing Font and Font Size: Menu Option
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Select the text you want to alter
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From the Format menu, select Font…
The Font dialog box appears.
HINT: A sample of the selected font will appear in the Preview section.
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In the Font text box, type the font name
OR
From the Font scroll box, select the desired font -
In the Size text box, type the desired size
OR
From the Size scroll box, select the desired size -
In the Effects section, click to select any desired additional font effects
EXAMPLE: small caps, superscript, subscript -
Click OK
Changing Character Formatting
Word allows you to format text characters by using The Formatting Palette, menu, or keyboard options. The palette and keyboard options are faster; however, the menu option allows more room for modification. Some of the styles you can apply are boldface, italics, underlining, shadow, superscript or subscript, single or double strikethrough, small or all caps, and color.
Changing Character Formatting: Formatting Palette Option
For more information about the Formatting Palette, see the document which describes it and its most commonly used sections: The Formatting Palette.
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Select the text you want to alter
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From the Formatting Palette, under Font, from the style buttons, click one or more of the appropriate formatting buttons
HINT: To clear character formatting, select the text and click a formatting button a second time.
Changing Character Formatting: Menu Option
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Select the text you want to alter
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From the Format menu, select Font…
The Font dialog box appears. -
In the Font style text box, type the desired style
OR
From the Font style scroll box, select the desired style -
OPTIONAL: In the Effects section, select a format
EXAMPLE: small caps, shadow -
Click OK
Changing Character Formatting: Keyboard Option
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Select the text you want to change
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Press the appropriate keys:
Enhancement Keystroke Italics [command] + [I] Bold [command] + [B] Underline [command] + [U]
- To deselect your text, click the mouse button once
Changing Text Alignment
Text alignment, margins, and line spacing will affect the entire paragraph even if you have only a single word selected or the insertion point placed in the paragraph. To format multiple paragraphs, you need to select at least one character from each paragraph. You can align text with the right or left margins, center the text, or align the text with both margins. For more information about alignment options, refer to Paragraph Formatting Options.
Changing Text Alignment: Formatting Palette Option
For more information about the Formatting Palette, see the document which describes it and its most commonly used sections: The Formatting Palette.
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Select the text you want to alter
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From the Formatting Palette, under Alignment and Spacing, click the appropriate alignment button
HINT: To change the alignment, select the text and click a different alignment button.
Changing Text Alignment: Menu Option
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Select the text you want to alter
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From the Format menu, select Paragraph...
The Paragraph dialog box appears.
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Select the Indents and Spacing tab
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From the Alignment pull-down list, make the appropriate selection
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Click OK
Changing Text Alignment: Keyboard Options
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Select the text you want to change
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Press the appropriate keyboard shortcut:
Alignment Keystroke Left [command] + [L] Center [command] + [E] Right [command] + [R] Full [command] + [J]
- To deselect your text, click the mouse button once
