How to Get Rid of Formatting and Go Back to the Underlying Paragraph

Word 2010 can clear unwanted formatting from a paragraph.

Microsoft Word 2010 can format text with a combination of font styles and paragraph alignments to create a custom look. You can also remove unwanted formatting and return to the original paragraph. The "Home" tab contains a "Font" command that acts like a digital eraser and clears the added effects. The paragraph's text remains intact and displays the default formatting style.

Instructions

1. Open the saved Word document.

2. Click the "Home" tab on the command ribbon.

3. Click and drag the cursor to select the paragraph.

4. Click the "Clear Formatting" button in the "Font" group. This button shows a white eraser and an outlined "Aa." The formatting disappears. The text in the paragraph is free to edit.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also highlight a paragraph and press "Ctrl" and then the space bar to remove formatting.

• To remove highlighting from the paragraph, click and drag on the highlighted text. Click the arrow beside the "Text Highlight Color" button in the "Font" group. Click the "No Color" option.

References

• Microsoft Office: Clear Formatting

Resources

• Microsoft Office: Clear All Text Formatting