Microsoft KB Archive/123302

= How to reset character and style formatting in Word =

Article ID: 123302

Article Last Modified on 1/3/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Word 1.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 1.1 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 1.1 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 2.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 2.0a
 * Microsoft Office Word 2003
 * Microsoft Word 2.0c
 * Microsoft Word 6.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 6.0a
 * Microsoft Word 6.0c
 * Microsoft Word 95 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 95a
 * Microsoft Word 1.0 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 1.05 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 3.0 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 3.01 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 3.02 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 4.0 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 5.0 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 5.1 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 5.1 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 6.0 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 6.01 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 6.01 for Macintosh
 * Microsoft Word 98 for Macintosh

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This article was previously published under Q123302





SUMMARY
This article describes how to remove manual character and style formatting.

Note There is a documentation error in Chapter 6 ("Formatting Text Characters") of the "Microsoft Word User's Guide," version 6.0. See the "Changing the Font, Font Size, and Other Formats" section, "To copy character formatting" procedure (Document No. WB51157-1093, page 109, and Document No. WB60460- 0794, page 115). The manual incorrectly states:   Word removes any character formats you applied with the formatting toolbar, key combinations, or the Font command on the Format menu. Word does not remove character formats that are part of a character or  paragraph style. The second sentence is incorrect. The text correctly states that the procedure does not remove character formats that are part of a paragraph style. However, Word does remove character formats that are part of a character style. When you select characters that are formatted with a character style, and you press CTRL+SPACEBAR (in Windows) or COMMAND+SHIFT+Z (on the Macintosh), Word removes the character style and applies only the remaining paragraph style instead.



Word for Windows
The ResetPara command (CTRL+Q) does not remove formatting. Instead, this command adds direct formatting. ResetPara compares the paragraph properties of the style to the properties of the paragraph. Then, ResetPara applies direct formatting to add the paragraph properties that are needed to make the paragraph look like the style.

The ResetChar command removes all manual character formatting that is applied to the selected text and retains only the character formatting that is defined in the style. You cannot use CTRL+SPACEBAR to remove character formatting that is applied with a style. (In Word 6.0, you can create character styles in addition to paragraph styles. CTRL+SPACEBAR does not remove manually applied formatting that is not defined in the character style.)   Version              Command name          Shortcut key -  1.x                  ResetChar             CTRL+SPACEBAR

1.x                 ResetPara             CTRL+X

2.x                 ResetChar             CTRL+SPACEBAR

2.x                 ResetPara             CTRL+Q

6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c     ResetChar             CTRL+SPACEBAR or                                              CTRL+SHIFT+Z

6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c     ResetPara             CTRL+Q

7.0, 7.0a           ResetChar             CTRL+SPACEBAR or                                              CTRL+SHIFT+Z

7.0, 7.0a           ResetPara             CTRL+Q

Word for the Macintosh
The Plain Text command removes any manual formatting applied to your text, such as font character and size changes, bold, italics, and underscore. In versions 1.x and 3.x, the text is returned to the current style applied to the paragraph. Beginning with version 4.0, the Revert To Style command resets the paragraph to the current style, stripping any additional manual formatting. In versions 6.0 and 98, ResetPara removes manual formatting applied over a style, and ResetChar removes direct character formatting.   Version              Command name          Shortcut key -  1.x, 3.x             Plain Text

4.x                 Plain Text

5.x                 Revert To Style       COMMAND+SHIFT+SPACEBAR

6.0, 98             ResetPara             COMMAND+OPTION+Q

6.0, 98             ResetChar             COMMAND+SHIFT+Z

Additional query words: shortcut key reset paragraph character format formatting normal current style 8.0 8.00

Keywords: kbhowto kbformat KB123302

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