Applies To
Word for Microsoft 365 Outlook for Microsoft 365 Word 2024 Outlook 2024 Word 2021 Outlook 2021 Word 2019 Outlook 2019 Word 2016 Outlook 2016

You can specify how you want text to appear by selecting options in the Font dialog box. The availability of some options depends on the languages that are installed and enabled for editing.

Tip: To do extensive formatting of your document you'll usually get better results by using Styles. For more information see Video: Using Styles in Word

Word and Outlook have two tabs on their Font dialog box: Font and Advanced

You can use the settings on the font tab to adjust the basic look and feel of your text. Any changes you make will be reflected in the Preview box so that you have an idea of what the text will look like before you save the changes.

Font

Specifies a Latin text font. In the box, select a font name.

Font style

Specifies a font style, such as Bold or Italic. In the box, select a font style.

Size

 Specifies a font size in points. In the list, select a font size. To ensure readability for most documents and users, use a size of eight points or larger.

Font Color

Specifies the color of the selected text. In the box, select a color. Clicking Automatic applies the color defined in Microsoft Windows Control Panel. By default, that color is black unless you change it. In paragraphs with shading of 80 percent or more, clicking Automatic changes the text to white.

Underline style

Specifies whether selected text is underlined and the underline style. Click none to remove underlining.

Underline color

Specifies the color of the underline. This option remains unavailable until you apply an underline style.

Strikethrough

Draws a line through the selected text.

Double strikethrough

Draws a double line through the selected text.

Superscript

Raises the selected text above the baseline and changes the selected text to a smaller font size, if a smaller size is available. If you want to raise the selected text without changing the font size, click the Character Spacing tab, and then click Raised in the Position box.

Subscript

 Lowers the selected text below the baseline and changes the selected text to a smaller font size, if a smaller size is available. If you want to lower the selected text without changing the font size, click the Character Spacing tab, and then click Lowered in the Position box.

Small caps

 Formats selected lowercase text as capital letters and reduces their size. Small caps formatting does not affect numbers, punctuation, non-alphabetic characters, or uppercase letters.

All caps

Formats lowercase letters as capitals. All caps formatting does not affect numbers, punctuation, non-alphabetic characters, or uppercase letters.

Hidden

 Prevents selected text from being displayed. To view hidden text, click the Microsoft Office Button Office button image, and then click Word Options. Click Display, and then under Always show these formatting marks on the screen, select the Hidden text check box.

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