Microsoft 365: Word Intermediate (2023): Customizing Styles

Name: Microsoft 365: Word Intermediate (2023): Customizing Styles
Author: Catherine Smith

Learn to apply, create, and modify styles within Word Online

Preview the first lesson free — get full access to all 4 lessons.

Course: On-Demand

Hello, my name is Catherine Smith, and in these lessons, we will define a word style and demonstrate the usefulness of styles. We will learn to apply and modify styles, create new styles, and use what we have learned to include styles as we create a custom template. Within Microsoft Word, the styles feature allows the user to apply multiple formatting options by selecting a style name, which represents the options. For example, a user can select a font, font size, text color, border, etc., and apply a name to the entire group of options. This name is known as the style name. Then, this collection of formatting options can easily be applied to an area of text within your document with a single click. There are a number of built-in styles which appear automatically when you begin a new Word document. You should see those styles when selecting the home tab on the ribbon and choosing the more styles drop-down. Initially, you will note that the normal style is the default style and will be selected with any new document. The other built-in styles are available when needed. These built-in styles, while helpful, may need to be modified to meet the specific needs of your document. Within the built-in styles, there are a few styles which provide extended capabilities. So, basically, there are other features within Word which are dependent upon certain styles, and we'll talk more about that later in the video. For now, let's take a look at this sample document. The author of this particular document did create a structure. There's a title at the top, Learning Microsoft Office 365. Then, there are three subheadings. One states Microsoft Word, the other Microsoft Excel, and last Microsoft PowerPoint. Within those subheadings, we have additional sections. For example, introduction falls within Microsoft Word, Intermediate, and Advanced Topics. Each having three paragraphs of generic boilerplate body text for the purpose of the demonstration. So, basically, we have a document with three primary sections, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, each having an introduction, and an ingredient in Advanced Topics area. While the author did organize the document, the organization is not being reflected well based upon the formatting which is in place. I'm going to show you an improved version of this document with styles being used. The document now does a better job of reflecting the organization contained within. For example, the text at the top is clearly a title. It's using a 28 point font and the title style has been applied to the text highlighted. The secondary level heading Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint have a font with a 16 point setting just a bit smaller than the title and clearly the heading one style has been applied. The next level is Introduction, Intermediate, and Advanced. Just a bit smaller than our headings, and you'll note that the heading two style has been applied. So, basically, with the use of styles, we see more clearly the overall organization of the document. You'll also notice our three body paragraphs also appear to have a uniform appearance and formatting. You'll notice a style named course paragraphs is in use on the body paragraphs. Now, course paragraphs is not part of the default styles initially contained within Word. However, the author of this particular document created a custom style, applied a half inch left indent, and increased the font size slightly, and named the style course paragraph so that it could be used throughout the document. These improvements make a pretty big difference in the document, improving the readability and organization of the document. Earlier, I mentioned additional features which may be available through the use of certain styles. Let's demonstrate that. I'm going to choose the view tab on the ribbon and turn on the navigation pane. You'll notice under the headings selected area, you'll see a collapse and expand marker to the left of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This marker will expose the information contained within that particular area of the document. It's interesting to note that while a style has been applied to the title, in fact, we earlier noted it's the title style, the text learning Microsoft Office 365 does not appear in the navigation area. The reason for that is that certain styles are linked or connected to this particular navigation feature. And those styles are heading one, heading two, and potentially heading three, if it had been used. So basically, those styles have a connection or relationship with this navigation feature. When properly using the heading styles, you'll have an efficiency with navigating throughout the document. Clicking on the text in the navigation area, Microsoft PowerPoint, will cause the document to advance to that position. Microsoft Excel, it advances to that position. And any of these heading two style references will also have the same navigation capability. So, to summarize, styles is a feature which will provide access to a number of formatting options and features with one click. Styles will create consistency within a document and also, if understood, and used properly is the first step in accessing other features. Stay tuned for the next lesson where I will show you how to apply and edit styles. Thanks for watching.

Intermediate Provider : Catherine Smith 4 Lessons · 24m in English

Course Description

Using styles improves the organization and readability of a document. A style enforces a formatting standard. Any portion of a document can take advantage of the power of styles. You can customize built-in styles to meet your requirements. Once a style has been customized, you can update it, which applies the customization throughout the document. You can also create custom styles in Word, which gives you the freedom to make a document that will suit your specific needs. The use of templates within Word promotes document consistency and reinforces brand awareness through a system of template management.

In these lessons, you will learn to apply styles to text within a document. Once the styles have been applied, you will learn to modify the style to use in different parts of your document. You will also learn to create custom styles, which helps you to build a personalized document more easily.

What You'll Learn

Understand the benefits of styles for document organization and readability
Apply built-in styles to text within a document
Modify and customize styles to use in different parts of a document
Create custom styles to build personalized documents
Create custom templates in Word Desktop

Key Takeaways

Using styles improves the organization and readability of a document by enforcing a formatting standard.
Built-in styles can be customized to meet your requirements, and updating a customized style applies the change throughout the document.
Creating custom styles gives you the freedom to make a document that suits your specific needs.
Using templates within Word promotes document consistency and reinforces brand awareness through template management.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will I learn in this course?

You will learn to apply styles to text within a document, modify styles to use in different parts of your document, create custom styles, and create custom templates in Word Desktop.

Why should I use styles in Word?

Styles improve the organization and readability of a document by enforcing a formatting standard, and any portion of a document can take advantage of the power of styles.

What topics do the lessons cover?

The lessons cover getting started with styles, applying and modifying a style, creating new styles, and creating custom templates in Word Desktop.

What skills does this course build?

This course builds skills in Microsoft Word, word processing, and document formatting.