Create and apply the style you need

To create a style for general text that you want to count:

1. Select Format | Styles And Formatting from the menu bar.
2. Click the New Style in the Styles And Formatting task pane.
3. In the Name text box, enter psTxtNrm. Leave the Style Type dropdown list set as Paragraph.
4. Select (no style) from the Style Based On dropdown list. The Style For Following Paragraph dropdown list should automatically change to psTxtNrm.
5. Use the Formatting area and the Format button to set your preferred formats. We used 11-point Times New Roman for our example.
6. Select the Add To Template check box if you want the style to be available to all documents. Click OK.

Adapt for Word 2007: Click on the Home tab, and in the Styles group, click the icon in the lower-right corner of the Styles group. In the Styles task pane, click the New Style button . The Create New Style From Formatting dialog box opens and the steps are pretty much the same as with Word 2000-2003. Select the New Documents Based On This Template option button if you want to make the style generally available. Select the Add To Quick Style List check box if you want it to show in the Styles group.

To apply the style to a paragraph:

1. Select a paragraph or two in your document. (Note that you can select paragraphs by selecting the style names in the left margin).
2. Choose Format | Style And Formatting from the menu bar to open the task pane.
3. In the Pick Formatting To Apply list box, locate psTxtNrm and click on it.

You should see the style name(s) change in the left margin and the text assume the new style.

Adapt for Word 2007: To apply the style in 2007, select some text, and then click on the style in the Quick Style list, or open the Styles task pane and select the style from that list.

Before you use your style, you should take one more step, primarily to preserve your sanity. Open the Styles task pane and click Options. In the Styles Pane Options dialog box, choose All Styles from the Select Styles To Show dropdown list. Choose Alphabetical from the Select How List Is Sorted, dropdown list. Use these settings so it’s easy to locate your styles.