# Q about font color in MS Word **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 19, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-font-color-in-ms-word/345252 "2006-02-19T22:27:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-font-color-in-ms-word/345252/1 "2006-02-19T22:27:57Z")
Is there a way to change a setting in MSWord so that _whenever_ I type text into a document, even if I’m inserting the text between two black letters, my text will nevertheless come up _red_? I already know how to change the font color, of course. But as things stand, whenever I want to make my text red, I have to hit the font change button before beginning to type. If I’m doing something that requires me to do alot of inserting of red text into black text, I would llke to not have to hit this button everytime, but instead, I would like it just to be red automatically when I start typing. Anyone know a way to do this? -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2006, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-font-color-in-ms-word/345252/2 "2006-02-19T22:49:25Z")
As you rpoabbly realize, that was probably not on the list of Top 5 user requested enhancements the last time Microsoft released a new version of Word. That said, Word has a programming environment that lets you do damn near anything you please if you you are willing to code it. You can record a Macro or make VBA code that allows you to set the font color via a keyboard shorcut without too much problem. You could make it do exactly as you say as well but I wouldn’t recommend that because I doubt you want red every single time you insert something. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2006, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-font-color-in-ms-word/345252/3 "2006-02-19T23:11:42Z")
You could set up a font style and make a button for that style. Or you could type in Track Changes mode, and specify red (which I think is usually the default for the first round of changes). ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-font-color-in-ms-word/345252/4 "2006-02-20T03:06:05Z")
The easiest way would be to change the default font style, “Normal”, to a red color. To do so, go to **Format** and then **Styles and Formatting**. The Styles and Formatting sidebar should pop up to the right. Right click on the style **Normal** in the list and select **Modify**. Make the font color red and press OK. Now all text in the document will be red unless you specifically make it otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-font-color-in-ms-word/345252/5 "2006-02-20T05:24:34Z")
But the color between two black letters would revert to black because Word assumes you want to keep the style you’re inserting between. “Track Changes” (Cntrl-Shft-E) makes _any_ new typing red and underlined but this doesn’t show on the “Final” version. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2006, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-font-color-in-ms-word/345252/6 "2006-02-20T09:15:45Z")
Ahh ok. I misunderstood.