Modifying Styles
Learn how to customize existing Word styles so that formatting updates apply automatically throughout the entire document.
By the end of this lesson you can
- Modify a built-in style so the change propagates document-wide
- Update a style to match selected formatting
- Create a new custom style
- Explain the difference between changing this document and changing the template
Video
Watch the lesson video, then complete the reading and challenge.
Lesson Notes
Read through the key concepts before you try the challenge.
Change the style, not the sixty paragraphs
You are updating the policy manual at Lakeside Medical Associates.
Every Heading 1 in the manual must become 16 point in the practice's new typeface. The headings already use the Heading 1 style, so the work is one dialog rather than sixty selections.
Your task: Modify a style once and watch the whole document follow.
There are two routes and they suit different moments. Right-click the style in the gallery and choose Modify to open a dialog where you set the formatting explicitly — best when you know exactly what you want. Or format one paragraph until it looks right, then right-click the style and choose 'Update Heading 1 to Match Selection' — best when you are designing visually and want to lock in what you have arrived at.
Why Modify Styles?
Instead of manually reformatting every heading or paragraph, you can modify the underlying style. Every paragraph using that style updates automatically — saving time and ensuring consistency throughout the document.
Update a Style to Match Selection
Apply manual formatting to one paragraph, then right-click the style name in the gallery and choose Update [Style Name] to Match Selection. All text using that style updates to match.
Modifying a Style with the Modify Dialog
Right-click a style in the gallery or Styles pane and choose Modify. The Modify Style dialog box gives you complete control over font, paragraph settings, borders, numbering, and more.
Formatting Options in the Modify Dialog
Inside the Modify Style dialog, use the Format button at the bottom-left to access advanced settings like Font, Paragraph, Tabs, Borders, and Numbering.
Updating Automatically vs. This Document Only
In the Modify Style dialog you can choose whether to apply the change to this document only or to new documents based on the current template. For most cases, choose Only in this document.
Creating a New Style
To save a custom combination as a new style, format a paragraph the way you want, then open the Styles pane and click New Style (the first icon at the bottom). Give it a name and set the type to Paragraph or Character.
Knowledge Check
What happens when you modify a style in Word?
Practice File
Download this file and follow along with the lesson.
Challenge
Apply what you've learned in this lesson.
Complete the following tasks:
- Apply bold and change the font color of one Heading 1 paragraph, then use Update Heading 1 to Match Selection.
- Open the Modify Style dialog for Normal and change the font to Calibri 12pt.
- Observe that all Normal-styled paragraphs updated to reflect the change.
- Use the Format → Paragraph option in the Modify dialog to add 6pt spacing after the Normal style.
- Create a brand new style named 'Callout' using blue 11pt italic text.
Finished this lesson?
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