Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. 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: Controlling the Bold Text Attribute.

Controlling the Bold Text Attribute

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 31, 2025)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021

Word allows a rich set of formatting attributes for text in a document. You can control the bold attribute for selected text in a VBA macro by using the Bold property. The syntax is as follows:

Selection.Font.Bold = toggle

where toggle is either False (turns off the bold attribute) or True (turns on the bold attribute). If you simply simply want to change the current setting of the bold attribute—bold text becomes non-bold and vice-versa, then you can use a statement such as the following:

Selection.Font.Bold = Not Selection.Font.Bold

The Font object doesn't just belong to the Selection object; it can belong to a Range object, as well. This means that you can also modify the Bold property for a range of text as well as a selection.

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the WordTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (11894) 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: Controlling the Bold Text Attribute.

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

Deleting an AutoText Entry

At some point you may want to delete an AutoText entry you previously created. Here are the steps to follow.

Discover More

Creating a TOC that Includes Specific Styles

Want to create a special TOC that contains different elements of your document? It's easy to do if you consistently use ...

Discover More

Macro for Month Name

Need to know how to generate a full month name based on a date? It's easy to do, as discussed in this tip.

Discover More

Discover the Power of Microsoft Office This beginner-friendly guide reveals the expert tips and strategies you need to skyrocket your productivity and use Office 365 like a pro. Mastering software like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is essential to be more efficient and advance your career. Simple lessons guide you through every step, providing the knowledge you need to get started. Check out Microsoft Office 365 For Beginners today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Determining the Size of a File

When processing a document using a macro, you may need to know the precise size of a particular file. The way you figure ...

Discover More

Adding Automatic Time Stamps

Your computer knows the current date and time, and Word provides ways you can get that date and time into your document. ...

Discover More

Counting the Instances of a Text String

Sometimes it is helpful to know how often a particular phrase appears within a document. If you need to know such a ...

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 two minus 0?

2025-02-01 06:20:26

Barry

Another very helpful tip thank you. Often need to toggle something .
However, as I use Styles as a preferred method of formatting I use something like this:
Sub MyBoldText() 'apply Strong style to selected text
Selection.Style = ActiveDocument.Styles("Strong")
End Sub
Which I run from a QAT button. Most of the time it is just fine - select the text, click the button, move on.

If I change my mind/make a mistake and want to reverse that action, then replacing the one code line above with the following does NOT work...
If Selection.Style = ActiveDocument.Styles("Strong") Then
Selection.Style = ActiveDocument.Styles("Normal")
Else
Selection.Style = ActiveDocument.Styles("Strong")
End If
It is Ok the first time but; although it resets the document formatting it does NOT change the underlying style!! (Then the text is shown as not conforming to its style).
Any help will be very much appreciated, thanks.

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.