Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated August 8, 2025)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
Templates are used in Word to define how you want your menus, toolbar, ribbon, glossary, and default styles to appear. When you are either adding new styles or changing existing styles, Word allows you to update the template to reflect those style changes. To do this, follow these steps:
Figure 1. The Modify Style dialog box.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (6012) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Adding Individual Styles to the Template.
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