Increasing Font Size in the Editor Task Pane

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 1, 2025)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Word in Microsoft 365

When Chris wants to do a spell-check, he presses F7 and Word displays the Editor task pane. He then clicks on the Spelling button and can step through supposed spelling errors. However, the text shown in the Editor task pane is too small for those with increasingly aged eyes. So Chris wonders if there is a way to adjust the text size. He doesn't need it enlarged everywhere in his system, just in the Editor task pane.

There is no capability within Word to adjust the size of text within specific task panes, including the Editor task pane. You could make some adjustments in Windows, but that would adjust font size in all text boxes or everywhere on the screen. If you want to go this route, then this tip will be helpful:

https://windows.tips.net/T000165

Another option is to use the Magnifier, which is one of the accessibility tools available in Windows. It allows you to magnify portions of your screen, like using a magnifying glass. Information on how to use the Magnifier can be found in these tips:

https://windows.tips.net/T011550
https://windows.tips.net/T012562

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (8837) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Word in Microsoft 365.

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. Learn more about Allen...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Finding Columns of a Certain Width

If you need to find out how many columns are set to be a specific width, you'll need a macro to help determine the info. ...

Discover More

Importing Custom Lists

Custom lists are handy ways to enter recurring data in a worksheet. Here's how you can import your own custom lists from ...

Discover More

Weird Document Numbers

By default, Word numbers any new documents you create. If you notice that the numbers used by Word are rather strange, ...

Discover More

Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 365 applications with VBA programming. Written in clear terms and understandable language, the book includes systematic tutorials and contains both intermediate and advanced content for experienced VB developers. Designed to be comprehensive, the book addresses not just one Office application, but the entire Office suite. Check out Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 365 today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Margins On the Screen Don't Match Printout

Does your text on the screen sometimes look "scrunched up" when it comes to the transition between pages? It could be a ...

Discover More

Displaying the File Tab of the Ribbon by Default

When you first start Word, it displays the Home tab of the ribbon. If you want to display a different ribbon tab by ...

Discover More

Getting Rid of Blue Squiggly Underlines

In an effort to make your writing better, Word uses "squiggly" underlines to mark things it thinks you may need to ...

Discover More

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

Notify me about new comments ONLY FOR THIS TIP

Notify me about new comments ANYWHERE ON THIS SITE

Hide my email address

What is 2 + 3?

2025-03-03 08:42:21

Timothy J. McGowan

@Karen:

Tap the Start button on your keyboard or click on the Start button in the task bar. Start typing Magnifier until it appears in the list of programs. Click on that to start the Windows Magnifier.

2025-03-01 05:07:59

Karen

Hi, Allen - When is the last time you tried this tip? The article in the link was last updated in 2019, and there is no Display option in Hardware and Sound in Windows 10. Is that yet another thing that the Microsoft folks decided we don't need? -Karen

This Site

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.