Clear All Formatting

If your paragraph formatting changes won't work, it's time to clear all formatting and styles so you can start over.

In Word 2007, the most likely cause for formatting changes that won't stick is that there is an overriding style attached to the paragraph.

Here is how to remove all styles so you can stop formatting changes from misbehaving!

*Thank-you, Betty, for submitting this question!


Clearing Styles

To remove all styles from a block of text, open your Word document, then follow these steps:

  1. Highlight the paragraph or block of text that contains the problematic formatting.
  2. On the Home tab, click the Styles dialogue box launcher to open the Styles window (or click Alt + CTRL + Shift + S).
    Word 2007 Styles dialogue box launcher
  3. In the Styles window, select Clear.
    Clear All formatting styles in Word 2007

That's it! You now have unstyled text that is ready to be formatted as needed.


Clear Formatting the Fast Way!

Want a faster way to clear formatting?

The Clear Formatting button on the ribbonIf you don't like launching the Styles window, select the text then click the Clear Formatting button. It is located in the ribbon, on the Home tab, in the Font group.


Go back to Document Formatting

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