Fonts, Font Size, Font Color

What are they, and how do I change them?

By Jan K., The Proofer

© Copyright 2008

A font is the style of the type, the way the words look. Each of the font names below illustrate how that font looks:

• Times New Roman (the default font for Word)

• Arial (a popular font)

• Comic Sans MS

• Courier New

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If you are unfamiliar with Microsoft Word (or any computer-based word processing program), then you are probably bewildered about not only the terminology, but also how to find and change the corresponding settings. This tutorial, written in simple language, will provide illustrated instructions and explanations for the basic elements of a Word document: font, font size, and font color.

You can also refer to this helpful article for more about Word terminology:

• Working with Word...It's Easier than You Think!

For homeschoolers, learning the basic terminology for and use of Word documents can be two lessons in one! First, review the computer skills needed to use different fonts, font sizes, and font colors...

...and then use these skills during class lessons or to do assigned homework! 

A font is the style of the type, the way the words look. Each of the font names below illustrate how that font looks:

• Times New Roman (the default font for Word)

• Arial (a popular font)

• Comic Sans MS

• Courier New

Font size is just what you'd expect, the size of the type. It is measured in "points" (pt). The higher the number, the bigger the font size:

• Times New Roman (12pt)

• Times New Roman (14pt)

• Times New Roman (18pt)

Creating a text document using Microsoft Word (or most any other word-processing software) can be easy...providing that you understand some basic terminology and know how to do a few basic things.

This tutorial reviews:

• Fonts
• Font Size
• Font Color
• Font Treatment (regular, italic, bold, underlined)

Refer to the examples shown to the left for a visual description of Fonts and Font Size.

• Times New Roman (12pt, black, the default font color for Word)
• Times New Roman (12pt, red)
• Times New Roman (12pt, green)

Font treatment is how you change the way the font appears:

• Times New Roman (12pt, black, regular, the default treatment)
• Times New Roman (12pt, black, italic)
• Times New Roman (12pt, black, bold)
• Times New Roman (12pt, black, underlined)

Refer to the examples shown to the left for a visual description of Font Color and Font Treatment.

• Times New Roman (12pt, red, italic)
• Times New Roman (12pt and 14pt, green, underlined)
• Times New Roman (18pt, blue and red, italic, bold, and underlined)

Font, font size, font color, and font treatment. It is just that simple.

You can mix all of these elements and even use two or more elements for any single sentence or word! Refer to the examples to the left for a visual description of using more than one element at a time.

OK, so now that you know what font, font size, font color, and font treatment is and what it looks like, how do you do it? First, open a blank Word document.

Did you just stop and ask, "How do I open a Word document?"

This is a fairly simply process, and it may depend on how your computer is set up, what desktop icons you have (all these pretty little pictures and symbols on your computer screen when you turn on your computer).

You should look for the Microsoft Word icon (a blue W in an square, see left) on your computer screen (desktop). Click on the icon (on your computer). Depending on how you have your computer set up, you may have to double-click on the icon.

You can also click on the "start" button at the very bottom left of your computer screen (is it probably in a green box, and has the four-color Microsoft "flag" next to the word "start"). Click on Programs, Click on Microsoft Office, Click on Microsoft Word---or---Click on Programs, and click on Microsoft Word.

To the left is the typical view of an blank Word document. The blank page is displayed in "Normal" view. (If you don't see this "view" of a blank Word document, go to Step 14 for more information.)

Now, type the sentence:

This is a test.

(See Step 6.)

The sentence now appears, most likely in Times New Roman, 12pt, black, regular.

(Refer to Steps 1 and 2 for a quick reminder about font, font size, font color, and font treatment if you need to!)

The following steps will show you how to change the font, change the font size, change the font color, and apply font treatments.

In order to change fonts, font size, font color, and apply font treatments, you will need the "Formatting" toolbar. To show the Formatting toolbar, or to check to make sure you have the Formatting toolbar, find the word "View" on your toolbar (the gray row under the blue bar at the very top of the computer screen).

Click on View, then click on Toolbars. Make sure that Formatting has a check mark in front of it (as shown to the left). If it doesn't, just click on the word Formatting.

This is great! You are learning new Word skills! Good for you!

In order to change text that you have already typed (or that already appears in a Word document that you open), you must "block highlight" the text (one letter, one word, one sentence, one paragraph, or whatever text you wish to change).

To "block highlight" (or "select") text, click the cursor in front of the first letter (word, sentence, etc.) that you want to highlight. Hold down the mouse button and drag the mouse.

The text selected will be "highlighted" in black, and the letters will show white.

As long as the text is block highlighted (or selected), you can make any and all changes desired.

Change the font.

While the text is block highlighted (selected), on the Formatting toolbar (refer to Step 7 if the Formatting toolbar is not visible) find the font field. It very likely shows "Time New Roman" (because that is normally the default font). The field might also be blank.

To the right of the field, click on the down arrow. A "drop-down" menu will appear, and will list all of the fonts that are loaded on your computer. At the very top you will likely see the fonts that you have most recently used. Below that, will be the long list of available fonts. Click on the button in the scroll bar (that's the "slide bar" on the right-hand side of the drop-down menu), hold down the mouse button, and slide it down to show all the fonts. When you see the font you want, simply click on that font name.

The text in the Word document that is block highlighted will automatically change to the new font. If you don't like that font, block highlight the text again, and search for another font. Repeat until you have the font you want.

Change the font size.

Once again, block highlight the text that you want to change. On the Formatting toolbar, find the field that has a number in it. It is most likely 12pt (the normal default font size). Click on the down arrow and select the font size you want.

If you want to change the font size again, repeat the process: block highlight the text, click on the font size field, scroll to the font size number desired, and click on the number.

The block highlighted text will automatically change font size.

Change the font color.

To change the font color, block highlight the text. On the Formatting toolbar, find a capital letter A (it probably shows as black). Click on the down arrow next to it to find the palette of most commonly used colors.

Click on the color desired.

If you don't see the color that you want, click on "More colors..." at the bottom of the drop-down menu for the full color palette available. Click on any color. The font color will change automatically.

Change the font treatment.

Block highlight the text you want to change. On the Formatting toolbar, find these capital letters: B, I, U. As you might imagine, B is for Bold, I is for Italic, and U is for Underline. You'll also note that the B is bold (it looks darker), the I is italic (it is slanted slightly to the right), and the U has a line under it (also called an "underscore").

To apply bold, italic, or underline to the text, simply click on that letter. You'll notice that the letter on the toolbar will be shaded in blue. You can apply any two or all three treatments to the same text. While the text is still block highlighted, click on the letters that correspond to the treatment(s) you desire.

If you have made text bold and you no longer want the text to be bold, just reverse the process. Block highlight the text, and click again on the letter. This will remove the treatment from the text (and the letter on the toolbar will no longer be shaded).

Well, that's it! You've now mastered the basic skills needed for changing the font, font size, font color, and font treatment! CONGRATULATIONS!

Now, you can experiment with these skills! Just type some text and play with changing the font, font size, font color, and font treatment. Do one letter in a word, one word in a sentence, one sentence in a paragraph, or one paragraph in a whole page of text.

Does your blank Word document look like this? If so, then Word is set to "Print Layout" view.

Find the word "View" on the toolbar (the gray rows under the blue bar at the top of the screen). Click on View. Now click on Normal (to switch to the view shown in Step 5). If you click on View and do not see the word "Normal" to click on, then click on the down arrows at the bottom of the drop-down menu that appears, or simply hold the mouse key down for a few moments for the whole menu to appear).

Learn how to set margins, format paragraphs, insert page numbers, and use headers and footers, in:

• How to Format a Word Document

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