Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 9, 2021)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
In many word processors, an author may call out material with quote marks. For instance, the first time a term is introduced, the author may enclose the term in quote marks. In Word, however, you can call out information with italics. Manually changing quoted material to italics can be very time consuming.
The following macro, QuotesToItalics, checks the current paragraph for quoted material. If there is any, it deletes the quotes and changes the text between the quotes to italics. If the quote marks are unbalanced (there is an opening or closing quote mark with no corresponding closing or opening quote mark), then the quote mark is ignored, and no changes are made. The macro works with either regular quotes or smart quotes.
Sub QuotesToItalic() Dim Redo As Boolean Dim Ptr As Integer Dim Ptr1 As Integer Dim P As String Dim P1 As String If Selection.ExtendMode Then Exit Sub Redo = True While Redo Selection.StartOf Unit:=wdParagraph, Extend:=wdMove Selection.MoveEnd Unit:=wdParagraph P = Selection.Text Ptr = InStr(P, Chr(34)) If Ptr = 0 Then Ptr = InStr(P, Chr(147)) If Ptr > 0 Then Selection.MoveLeft Unit:=wdCharacter, Extend:=wdMove Selection.MoveRight Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=Ptr Selection.MoveEnd Unit:=wdParagraph P1 = Selection.Text Ptr1 = InStr(P1, Chr(34)) If Ptr1 = 0 Then Ptr1 = InStr(P1, Chr(148)) EndChar = Chr(148) Else EndChar = Chr(34) End If If Ptr1 > 0 Then Selection.MoveLeft Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=2, _ Extend:=wdMove Selection.Delete Unit:=wdCharacter Selection.MoveRight Unit:=wdCharacter, _ Count:=Ptr1 - 1, Extend:=wdExtend Selection.Font.Italic = True Selection.MoveRight Unit:=wdCharacter, Extend:=wdMove Selection.Delete Unit:=wdCharacter Else Selection.MoveRight Unit:=wdCharacter, Extend:=wdMove Redo = 0 End If Else Selection.MoveRight Unit:=wdCharacter, Extend:=wdMove Redo = 0 End If Wend End Sub
Note:
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (9502) 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: Replacing Quoted Text with Italics.
Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2021 or Microsoft 365. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word Step by Step today!
When you format the text in a document, you can use any of the fonts that Word makes available to you. If that font list ...
Discover MoreWant your text to always appear in uppercase, regardless of how you type it? Word allows you to add formatting to your ...
Discover MoreWord provides quite a bit of latitude when it comes to formatting your underlines. This tip looks at how to best change ...
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 © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments