Removing formatting in Word can be a headache, but it’s actually quite simple once you know the steps. Whether you’ve accidentally applied formatting you didn’t intend to, or you’ve received a document from someone else that’s a little too creative with their use of fonts and styles, stripping that formatting out can make the document more readable and easier to work with.
Step by Step Tutorial: How Do You Remove Formatting in Word
Before we dive into the steps, let’s clarify what we’re aiming to achieve here. Removing formatting in Word means we’re getting rid of any bold, italics, underlines, font changes, size changes, and other text styling. This will return your text to the default style of the document.
Step 1: Select the Text
Click and drag your cursor over the text from which you want to remove formatting.
Selecting the text is the first step because you can’t remove formatting from nothing, right? Make sure you highlight exactly what you want to strip – whether it’s a single word, a sentence, or the entire document.
Step 2: Click on the ‘Clear All Formatting’ Button
After selecting your text, click on the eraser icon in the Font group of the Home tab.
This button looks like an eraser and is pretty easy to locate. It instantly strips all the formatting from your selected text, reverting it to the default style set for your document.
Step 3: Use the Shortcut Key (Optional)
Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Spacebar to remove formatting.
Shortcuts can save you a lot of time, especially if you’re working on a long document. Remembering this keyboard combination can come in very handy.
After completing these steps, your text will be free of all the additional formatting, leaving you with a clean, uniform style throughout your document. It’s like giving your document a fresh start!
Tips for Removing Formatting in Word
- Don’t forget you can undo the remove formatting action if you make a mistake. Just press Ctrl + Z.
- If you only want to remove certain types of formatting, such as bold or italics, simply use the B or I buttons in the Font group of the Home tab.
- Remember that removing formatting won’t change the actual style of the text. If you want to apply a new style, you’ll need to do that separately.
- Clear All Formatting won’t remove hyperlinks. You’ll need to right-click on the hyperlink and select ‘Remove Hyperlink’ to do that.
- If you’re having trouble selecting the text, try clicking three times to select an entire paragraph or use the Select All command (Ctrl + A) to select the entire document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove formatting from a specific section of my document?
Yes, you can remove formatting from any part of your document by selecting that section and then using the Clear All Formatting button or the keyboard shortcut.
Will removing formatting affect the layout of my document?
No, it will only affect the text styling. Any images, tables, or other elements in your document will remain unchanged.
Can I remove formatting in Word Online?
Yes, Word Online also has the Clear All Formatting button available in the Home tab.
Is there a way to remove only the font formatting but keep the bold and italics?
Yes, you can manually change the font back to the default without touching the bold and italic formatting by selecting the text and choosing the default font from the font dropdown.
What if I want to remove formatting from multiple non-contiguous sections of text?
Hold down the Ctrl key while you select different sections of text, then remove formatting from all selected sections at once.
Summary
- Select the text
- Click the ‘Clear All Formatting’ button or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Spacebar
Conclusion
Who knew that removing formatting in Word could be so easy? With just a couple of clicks or a quick keyboard shortcut, you can go from a chaotic mishmash of styles to a clean, uniform document. Plus, with the tips and FAQ section, you’re now equipped to tackle not just the basics, but also some of the more nuanced aspects of formatting removal.
Now that you’ve mastered how to remove formatting in Word, you can apply this knowledge to make your documents look more professional and easier to read. So go ahead, give it a try, and enjoy the satisfaction of a freshly formatted document. And remember, if you ever need to remove formatting again, just come back to this article for a quick refresher. Happy formatting (or unformatting)!