Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Changing Fonts for AutoText Entries.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 18, 2021)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365
Cynthia has a number of AutoText entries that are formatted using 11-pt Arial typeface. She wants to change these to 10-pt Times New Roman, so she is wondering if there is a way to change the font specification on these AutoText entries without having to recreate all of them.
The short answer is that you cannot edit AutoText entries, you can only replace them. Fortunately, it is not that difficult to do the replacing—just insert the entry, make the changes, select the entry, and save it using the same name as it previously had. Word asks you if you want to replace the entry; you should answer in the affirmative.
There is one caveat that has to do with where AutoText entries are stored. By default, they are stored in the Normal template file. You should note where the AutoText entry you are replacing is originally stored and make sure that you store the replacement in the same template. Fortunately, it is easy to tell if you stored the replacement AutoText entry in the wrong place. If Word doesn't ask if you want to replace the existing entry when you save the replacement, you then know that you saved the entry in a different template where there is no identically named AutoText entry to be replaced.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (13287) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Changing Fonts for AutoText Entries.
Do More in Less Time! Are you ready to harness the full power of Word 2013 to create professional documents? In this comprehensive guide you'll learn the skills and techniques for efficiently building the documents you need for your professional and your personal life. Check out Word 2013 In Depth today!
Do you write letters to lots of different people? One good place to keep those addresses is in Building Blocks. They are ...
Discover MoreIf you want to print a list of the AutoText entries on your system, you can do so quickly by making one change on the ...
Discover MoreAutoText has been a powerful feature in Word for decades. If you've spent countless hours developing your AutoText ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2024 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here:
Comments