How to Change Font Style, Size, and Effects in Microsoft Word How to Change Font Style, Size, and Effects in Microsoft Word When you open a blank document in Microsoft Word, the text you type appears in a default font style and size. But documents become much more attractive, readable, and professional when you adjust the font style, size, and effects. Think about it. A simple document written in the same font everywhere can look dull and difficult to read. But when you use headings, different sizes, bold text, and other effects, the document becomes clearer and more engaging. Whether you are writing a report, assignment, blog article, resume, or professional document, learning how to change font settings is one of the most useful skills in Microsoft Word. In this article, you will learn simple and easy methods to change font style, font size, and text effects in Microsoft Word. Even if you are a beginner, by the end of this guide you will be able to format your documents like a professional. Understanding Font Settings in Microsoft Word Before learning the steps, it helps to understand what font settings actually mean. Font settings control how your text looks. They include: Font Style – The design of the letters (such as Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri). Font Size – How big or small the text appears. Font Effects – Special styling like bold, italic, underline, color, shadow, and more. These options help you organize information so readers can easily understand your document. For example: Titles usually use larger fonts Headings use bold formatting Important points may use italic or underline Now let’s learn how to change them.   Step 1: Select the written contents that You Want to change Before applying any font change, you must first select the text. Here are some simple ways to select text: Using the Mouse Place your cursor at the beginning of the text. Hold the left mouse button. Drag over the text. Release the mouse. The text becomes highlighted, which means it is selected. Quick Selection Tricks Double-click → Selects one word Triple-click → Selects a full paragraph Ctrl + A → Selects the entire document Once text is selected, you can apply any font changes you want. How to Change Font Style in Microsoft Word Font style refers to the design of the letters. Different fonts create different feelings in a document. Some fonts look formal, while others look modern or creative. Steps to Change Font Style Select the text. Go to the Home tab at the top of Word. Look for the Font section. Click the font name box (where you see the current font). Choose a new font from the list. Your selected text will instantly change to the new font style. Popular Fonts in Microsoft Word Some fonts are commonly used because they are easy to read: Calibri – Default modern font Times New Roman – Traditional and formal Arial – Clean and professional Cambria – Great for documents and reports Verdana – Very clear for digital reading If you are writing a professional document, choose simple and readable fonts. How to Change Font Size Font size controls how large or small your text appears. Choosing the right size improves readability. Steps to Change Font Size Select the text. Go to the Home tab. Find the Font Size box. Click the drop-down arrow. Choose the size you want. The text will automatically change. Common Font Sizes     Typography Size Recommendations Use Case Recommended Size (pt) Document Title 18–28 Headings 14–18 Normal Text 11–12 Small Notes 9–10   For most documents, size 12 is standard. Quick Method: Increase or Decrease Font Size Instead of selecting a number, you can quickly adjust size. Steps: Select the text. In the Home tab, click: Increase Font Size (A↑) to make text bigger Decrease Font Size (A↓) to make text smaller This is a very fast method when editing documents. How to Apply Font Effects Font effects are used to highlight important information. They help readers notice key words or sections quickly. Let’s explore the most common effects. 1. Bold Text Bold makes text thicker and darker. It is usually used for: Headings Important points Key words Steps Select text. Click the B (Bold) button in the Home tab. Shortcut: Ctrl + B 2. Italic Text Italic text appears slanted. It is often used for: Quotes Book titles Emphasis Steps Select text. Click the I (Italic) button. Shortcut: Ctrl + I 3. Underline Text Underline draws a line under text. It is commonly used for: Important words Headings Links Steps Select text. Click the U (Underline) button. Shortcut: Ctrl + U   Changing Font Color Sometimes black text is not enough. You may want to add color to highlight something. Steps Select text. Click the Font Color icon (A with color line). Choose a color. Your text will change immediately. This is useful for: Titles Highlighting warnings Important instructions But remember: do not overuse colors, especially in professional documents. Using Text Highlight Highlight works like a marker pen on paper. Steps Select text. Click the Text Highlight Color button. Choose a color. The background behind the text will become highlighted. This helps readers focus on important information. Advanced Font Effects Microsoft Word also offers additional effects that many users never explore. To see them: Select text. Click the small arrow in the Font section. A Font Settings window will open. Here you can apply: Strikethrough Double Strikethrough Superscript Subscript Small Caps Shadow Outline These options give you more control over text appearance. Understanding Superscript and Subscript These are used in mathematics, chemistry, and technical writing. Superscript Text appears above the normal line. Example: x² Shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + + Subscript Text appears below the line. Example: H₂O Shortcut: Ctrl + = Changing the Default Font in Microsoft Word If you always use the same font, you can set it as the default. Steps Open the Font dialog box. Choose your preferred