How to Format Text in Microsoft Word

You can format text in Microsoft Word 97 and 2000 (for PC) and 98 (for Macintosh) by changing fonts, font size, and font style (bold, italics, underline, etc.). Text formatting lets you add a professional look to your documents. (Just be careful not to overdo it.)

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Microsoft Word

1. Select the text you want to format.

2. Go to the Format menu and select Font. The Font window opens.

3. Select the Font tab, if it is not already selected.

4. Select the Font, Font Style, and Font Size you want to use.

5. Go to the Underline drop-down menu and select the type of underline you want, if any.

6. Go to the Color drop-down menu and select the font color you want; black is the default color.

7. Select the Effects you want in the Effects box by clicking on the checkbox for each effect you want the text to have.

8. Preview your changes in the Preview box at the bottom of the window.

9. Click OK.

Tips & Warnings

• To only change the font, select the text, go to the Font menu in the Formatting toolbar, and select the font you want to use.

• Don't overuse font effects. Think about the books and magazines you read; they seldom use bold in running text, for example, or funky colors and fonts.