How to Use a Custom Style in Word 2003

You can create and use a custom style in Word 2003 to change entire sections of documents. Once you have chosen a custom style, you can access it just as you would any of the predefined styles on the formatting list.

Things You'll Need

• Microsoft Word 2003
• Computer

Instructions

1. Open the "Styles and Formatting" task pane. Click on "Format" in the toolbar to pull down the menu, and then click on "Styles and Formatting."

2. Hit the "New Style" button in the "Styles and Formatting" task pane. In the next window, you will name and define the new style.

3. Click the "OK" button. The name of your new custom style will appear on the list of available formattings in the "Styles and Formatting" task pane.

4. Highlight the text to which you want to apply a custom style. Click on the custom style's name displayed in the formatting list.

5. Use "Edit/Undo Style" if you do not like the custom style. Otherwise save the change.

Tips & Warnings

• You can change the look of paragraphs, the appearance of special characters or even the characteristics of tables and lists using a custom style. Just choose the style type and pick the formatting that you want associated with the new style.

• If you cannot find your custom styles, go to the "Show" box at the bottom of the "Styles and Formatting" task pane. Use the arrow to pull down a list and select "All Styles" from the list.

• If "Automatic Updating" is turned on for a given style, unexpected changes may occur to a document when a style is altered. To prevent this, right-click on the name in the formatting list, click "Modify" and make sure that the "Automatic Updating" box is not checked.