WD: How to Reset Character and Style Formatting in Word

ID: Q123302

The information in this article applies to:

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.

MORE INFORMATION

Word for Windows

ResetPara removes all manual paragraph formatting from selected text and retains only the formatting applied by the style.

ResetChar removes all manual character formatting applied to the selected text and retains only the character formatting defined in the style. You cannot use CTRL+SPACEBAR to remove character formatting 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          : winword macword word6 word7 word95 kbhowto kbformat 
Version           : MACINTOSH:3.0,3.01,3.02,4.0,5.0,5.10,6.0,6.0.1,6.0.1a,98; WINDOWS:1.0,1.1,1.1a,2.0,2.0a,2.0a-CD,2.0b,2.0c,6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: December 2, 1998