Try Out These Shortcuts to Save Time using Word Styles
by Avantix Learning Team | Updated April 9, 2021
Applies to: Microsoft® Word® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 365 (Windows)
Styles are one of the biggest timesavers in Microsoft Word and a must in longer documents. A style contains a set of formatting instructions which are applied when you apply a style. Styles can then be updated in a couple of steps. Microsoft Word ships with many built-in styles and the default style is the Normal style.
Recommended article: No Mouse? Using Keyboard Only Navigation in Microsoft Office
The following are some great shortcuts you can use with styles in Word.
1. Apply the Normal style
Select the text or paragraph and then press Ctrl + Shift + N.
2. Apply the Heading 1 style
Select the text or paragraph and then press Ctrl + Alt + 1.
3. Apply the Heading 2 style
Select the text or paragraph and then press Ctrl + Alt + 2.
4. Apply the Heading 3 style
Select the text or paragraph and then press Ctrl + Alt + 3.
5. Apply the list bullet style
Select the paragraph and then press Ctrl + Shift + L.
6. Promote or demote a heading
Select the paragraph and then press Alt + Shift + left arrow (promotes to the next highest level such as Heading 3 to Heading 2) or Alt + Shift + right arrow (demotes to the next lowest level such as Heading 2 to Heading 3).
7. Remove all manual character formatting
Select the text or paragraph and then press Ctrl + Spacebar (removes all manual character formatting but leaves the style formatting).
8. Remove all manual paragraph formatting
Select the paragraph and then press Ctrl + Q (removes all manual paragraph formatting but leaves the style formatting).
9. Apply a Style using the Apply Styles dialog box
Select the text or paragraph and then press Ctrl + Shift + S. You can then type a name of a style and press Enter to apply.
10. Apply a style using the Styles task pane
Select the text or paragraph and then press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + S. Select the style you wish to apply in the task pane. To navigate the task pane using only a keyboard, check out No Mouse? Using Keyboard Only Navigation in Microsoft Office (Part 3: Task Panes).
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