I’m writing a book in MS office/Word 2000. It’s a good program mostly, but I keep seeing this one werid error. I write in 10-point font because I need to fit that many words on a page and I makes reading it easier on me (so I don’t scroll so much). But for some reason, small sections of text will sometimes flip to Courier new, or go back to 12 point font. How can I stop this form happenning? I have used "edit->select all->change font and size repeatedly, but some tiny segment or another always pops back when I’m edition. I can just change it again and it doesnt bug me much, but…
Where are these small sections of text? If they’re always at the end of a line, try turning on Paragraph mark (There should be a ¶ key on the formatting toolbar) then selecting the paragraph mark and changing the font there. (Formatting is stored in these marks, and sometimes older ones can still retain the formatting even though the text associated with it has been deleted).
Go to the Format menu and select Font.
Select the typeface and size that you prefer to work with.
Click on the Default button at the bottom left.
This should correct the problem.
Word has a nasty habit of trying to “help” you format things and often makes changes you’re not noticing.
This is particularly common when you’re making lists or indented quotes or otherwise structured text. Word will decide to apply styles to your text without asking. If you’re not expecting styles, or if you’ve never even heard of the style feature, well then you’re gonna be in for a surprise.
Depending on how you have your options and toolbars set up you may have no visible indication that styles are being applied to your work.
Assuming you aren’t using styles and/or don’t know about them, here’s the way to turn them off and hopefully keep them off for the duration of the document’s life.
Go to Tools, AutoCorrect … On the 2nd tab (AutoFormat As You Type) uncheck everything under “apply as you type” and “automatically as you type”. On the 4th tab (AutoFormat) uncheck everything under “apply”. That’ll prevent any more from appearing automatically.