Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. 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: Fixing Mismatched Bullets and Numbers.
Sometimes when using the numbering or bullet features in Word, the format of one or more of the numbers or bullets does not match the others. For example, the color, size, or some other formatting could be different. This can be very frustrating to resolve if you don't realize that the format of the number and bullet is actually controlled by the format of the end-of-paragraph marker maintained by Word.
The end-of-paragraph marker is visible when you click the Show/Hide tool on the Home tab of the ribbon (it has the backward P on it). All you need to do is make sure that the paragraph marker of all items in your list are selected when you apply the bullet or numbering formatting or a style that applies such formatting. Word will then make sure that bullets and numbers are formatted the same for each item in the list.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (13083) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, and 2013. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Fixing Mismatched Bullets and Numbers.
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2018-03-02 10:00:18
If I'm understanding this correctly, I think there's an easier way that I use a lot. When I see a bullet/number with a different format than the rest in the list, I go to the first character of one of the paragraphs and press the left arrow key. That highlights all the bullets. Then I apply the formatting I want (color, font, font size, etc.). Am I on target?
2018-02-27 13:37:35
Peter Kirkpatrick
Paul,
I can't find it now (maybe someone else can point you in the right direction). But when I first switched there was a very helpful Excel workbook you could download from Microsoft. In that workbook was listed every single menu command from Office 2003, and beside it the equivalent ribbon command for Office 2007.
2017-02-13 06:34:59
Paul Franklin Stregevsky
Paul,
The best way to avoid getting frustrated by the ribbon is to not rely on it. Instead, add its hard-to-find commands, toggles, and widgets to your Quick Action Toolbar.
2017-02-12 17:11:11
Paul Bothwell
I doubt my ability to master VBA Macros when I am still struggling with Word 2016.
I used Word 97 for years without problems, but have damaged that disk, so a new computer forced me to Word 2016.
The ribbon is intimidating, because there are so many choices, most of which don't make sense to me. It now seems aimed at frequent users, not casual users.
Do you have a Word 2016 training course, or equivalent for "casual users".
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.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. 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: 
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