Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. 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: Renaming a Style.

Renaming a Style

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated September 16, 2019)

2

Word allows you to rename styles you have defined. You cannot, however, rename any of the predefined styles supplied with Word. To rename a style, follow these steps:

  1. Display the Home tab of the ribbon and then click the small icon at the bottom-right of the Styles group. Word displays the Styles task pane.
  2. Scroll through the styles in the Styles task pane until you see the style you want to rename.
  3. Hover your mouse pointer over the style name. You should see a drop-down arrow appear at the right side of the style name.
  4. Click the drop-down arrow and choose Modify. Word displays the Modify Style dialog box. (See Figure 1.)

    5. Figure 1. The Modify Style dialog box.

  5. In the Name box, enter a new name for the style.
  6. Click on OK.
  7. To rename other styles, repeat steps 2 through 6.
  8. When you are done renaming styles, dismiss the Styles task pane.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (8025) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, and 2013. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Renaming a Style.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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Comments

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What is four more than 3?

2017-05-11 13:47:56

Derek Jackson

Regarding my last coment, I just found this link and will give it a try: https://word.tips.net/T000095_Duplicating_Styles_without_Dependency.html
Of course, it is from your site. Thank you so much, you are a lifesaver!!!!!!

2017-05-11 13:34:23

Derek Jackson

In Word 2016: When I rename a style, "Title" to something like "NewTitle", it includes the old title, e.g., "Title,NewTitle". I am trying to rename it so I can copy the same style from another document, but it is linked back to the original and want to replace it, not add it using the Organizer. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

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