Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365. 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: Condensing and Expanding Headings.

Condensing and Expanding Headings

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 15, 2023)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365

When you are working Outline view, Word displays only the headings you want displayed. You control this by selecting a heading level on the Outlining tab of the ribbon. Word only shows those heading levels equal to or higher than the level you specify. You might, however, want to selectively condense headings or body text under specific headings. You do this in the following manner:

Position the insertion point somewhere in the heading whose subordinate information you wish to condense.
Click your mouse on the minus sign tool on the Outlining tab of the ribbon. This condenses the heading.
Click your mouse on the plus sign tool on the Outlining tab of the ribbon. This expands the heading.
Continue to click your mouse on the minus sign tool until the information is condensed to the level desired.

Word allows you to quickly condense or expand all the information under a heading by double-clicking your mouse on the minus sign or plus sign to the left of a heading. This assumes, of course, that the information under the heading had been previously expanded.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (12655) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Condensing and Expanding Headings.

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...

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What is six minus 4?

2023-01-06 14:58:48

Scott

When I save a condensed document, the next time I open it, it is expanded. Is there a way to save it as a condensed document?

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