I encounter lots of documents with inconsistent formatting. For example, the document might apply a special fashion for code merely the author missed a few keywords. Or, the author practical the right style, inconsistently! Either way, someone has to gear up it. A visual hit or miss might catch everything, simply nearly likely, the author will still miss something. When this happens, I show the author how to utilise Word's Find & Replace feature to correctly apply styles. Starting time, I'll evidence y'all how to alter the style of a particular string. And then, I'll show you lot how to replace one style with another.

Applying the same fashion to each occurrence of a detail cord

In the example document (shown below), the word PC appears twice. (We're keeping the example simple on purpose – I see no reason to make you browse through several paragraphs, merely that's what yous'll probably be facing when you apply this to your own piece of work.) The writer should've applied the style Intense Accent to each occurrence of the discussion PC, but as you lot can see, she missed one.

Now imagine a long document filled with the word PC; some are properly formatted and others aren't. The quickest style to correct the situation is to employ Discover & Supplant as follows:

  1. Click the Habitation tab and then click Replace in the Editing group. In Give-and-take 2003, Supercede is on the Edit menu. Or, press [Ctrl]+H.
  2. In the Detect What control, enter PC.
  3. Click inside the Replace With control and so click More than if necessary. (This footstep is of import, if you don't give focus to this control, the technique won't piece of work.)
  4. From the Format dropdown (at the lesser of the full dialog), choose Fashion.
  5. In the resulting Notice Fashion dialog, select Intense Emphasis and click OK. Notice that Word displays the new style under the Replace With control. If you don't see this, start over and don't skip #three.
  6. At this indicate, yous click Replace All or Detect Next. In this case, we'll click Replace All. Then, click OK to confirm the action and Close to render to the document. Be careful when making this selection – it can have unexpected results. As y'all can see, Find & Replace applied Intense Accent to the improperly formatted occurrence of PC.

Globally update 1 manner to some other

At present permit's suppose you decided that Intense Emphasis is only a chip as well much emphasis. You think that the mode Strong would look meliorate. To globally replace one style with some other using Detect & Replace, do the post-obit:

  1. Click the Home tab and then click Replace in the Editing group. In Discussion 2003, Supersede is on the Edit bill of fare. Or, printing [Ctrl]+H.
  2. Click within the Find What control and click More (if necessary).
  3. From the Format dropdown, select Style.
  4. In the Find Way dialog, select Intense Emphasis and click OK.
  5. Click inside the Replace With command.
  6. From the Format dropdown, select Manner.
  7. Choose Strong and click OK.
  8. Click Supplant All, OK, and then shut.

This easy solution to a common and often frustrating problem is fabricated possible by the use of styles – it's one of the reasons I encourage users to work with styles as much equally possible!