Adding a Hidden Tool in Word

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated August 26, 2020)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365

In Word 2003 there is a toolbar button that controls formatting text as hidden. Click it once and the text is hidden; click it again and it is unhidden. That tool is no longer available on the Home tab of the ribbon in later versions of Word. However, you can add this button to the Quick Access toolbar.

The trouble is, in Word 2003 and earlier the Hidden tool indicates whether the selected text is hidden or not, the same as the Bold and Italic tools do. In Word 2007 and later versions, the Hidden tool, when added to the Quick Access toolbar, behaves differently; it doesn't show the state of whatever text you have selected.

This discrepancy in behavior may make you wonder if there is a way to make the Hidden tool in Word 2007 and later versions act like the Hidden tool in Word 2003. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that this is possible. If it is any consolation, however, hidden text, if displayed on the screen, should show with a small dotted underline. This makes it easy to pick out which of your text is formatted as hidden and which isn't.

That being said, it seems inconsistent for the Hidden tool to behave differently than similar formatting tools, such as the Bold and Italic tools. Perhaps Microsoft will make the behavior more consistent in future versions of the program.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (9535) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 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

Using Outline Numbering in a Table

If you have worked with tables in Word, you probably know how to navigate through the cells with keyboard shortcuts. This ...

Discover More

Changing the Default File Name

When you first save a new file, Word bases the name of that file on the contents of the start of the first paragraph in ...

Discover More

Changing Cell Colors

If you need to change the color with which a particular cell is filled, the easier method is to use the Fill Color tool, ...

Discover More

Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 2013 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access) with VBA programming, using it for writing macros, automating Office applications, and creating custom applications. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2013 today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Understanding Strikethrough Formatting

The strikethrough text feature in Word can be used as part of your document or to indicate that changes have been made to ...

Discover More

Adjusting Small Caps Text

If you use small caps text in a document, you know that there are several steps involved in properly formatting the text. ...

Discover More

Adjusting Text Pitch

Want to adjust the pitch of your text? The answer depends on what, exactly, is meant by "pitch." This tip looks at the ...

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 five more than 6?

2016-03-15 10:44:43

I imported it from word 2003 along with a number of other customised commands in a toolbar. It showed up in word 2007 add-ons tab. Sorry cant remember how I did it and cant recall if it highlighted when active (it got lost in a PC crash some time ago).

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.