How to Clear Formatting in Word Shortcut: Quick Guide

Clearing formatting in Word can be a hassle, but there’s a quick and easy shortcut that can save you time and frustration. By using the shortcut ‘Ctrl + Spacebar’ or ‘Ctrl + Shift + N’, you can clear all the formatting from the selected text, returning it to the default formatting of the document. This can be particularly useful if you’ve copied and pasted text from another source, or if you’ve applied multiple formatting options and want to start fresh.

Step by Step Tutorial: Clear Formatting in Word Shortcut

Before we dive into the steps, let’s clarify what we’re aiming to achieve. By following the steps below, you will learn how to clear formatting from your text in Microsoft Word using keyboard shortcuts, ensuring that your documents have a consistent and professional look.

Step 1: Select the text you want to clear formatting from

Select the text in your Word document that you want to clear the formatting from.

Selecting the text is the first step in the process. You can do this by clicking and dragging your mouse over the text, or by holding down the ‘Shift’ key and using the arrow keys to highlight the text.

Step 2: Use the shortcut ‘Ctrl + Spacebar’ or ‘Ctrl + Shift + N’

Once your text is selected, use the keyboard shortcut ‘Ctrl + Spacebar’ or ‘Ctrl + Shift + N’ to clear the formatting.

Using the shortcut is a quick and efficient way to clear formatting. This method works well if you’ve applied multiple formatting options and want to start fresh without having to go through and manually remove each one.

After you’ve completed these steps, your selected text should be returned to the default formatting of your Word document. This means that any bold, italics, underlines, font changes, or other formatting options that were applied to the text should be removed.

Tips: Clear Formatting in Word Shortcut

• If you only want to clear specific formatting options, you can use the ‘Clear Formatting’ button in the ‘Font’ group of the ‘Home’ tab.
• Remember that the shortcut ‘Ctrl + Spacebar’ will clear character formatting, while ‘Ctrl + Shift + N’ will clear paragraph formatting.
• If you’re having trouble with the shortcuts, make sure that the ‘Num Lock’ key on your keyboard is turned off.
• You can also clear formatting by right-clicking on the selected text and choosing ‘Clear Formatting’ from the context menu.
• Keep in mind that clearing formatting will not remove any hyperlinks from the text. You’ll need to remove those separately if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between ‘Ctrl + Spacebar’ and ‘Ctrl + Shift + N’?

‘Ctrl + Spacebar’ clears character formatting, while ‘Ctrl + Shift + N’ clears paragraph formatting.

Can I clear formatting from an entire document at once?

Yes, you can clear formatting from the entire document by pressing ‘Ctrl + A’ to select all the text and then using one of the clear formatting shortcuts.

Will using the clear formatting shortcut remove hyperlinks?

No, the clear formatting shortcut will not remove hyperlinks. You’ll need to remove those separately if needed.

Can I undo the clear formatting action if I make a mistake?

Yes, you can undo the clear formatting action by pressing ‘Ctrl + Z’, which is the shortcut for undo in Word.

Is there a way to clear formatting without using a keyboard shortcut?

Yes, you can clear formatting by selecting the text and clicking the ‘Clear Formatting’ button in the ‘Font’ group of the ‘Home’ tab.

Summary

1. Select the text you want to clear formatting from.
2. Use the shortcut ‘Ctrl + Spacebar’ or ‘Ctrl + Shift + N’ to clear the formatting.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a student, a professional, or someone who just likes to keep their documents looking clean and consistent, knowing how to clear formatting in Word using a shortcut is a valuable skill. The ‘Ctrl + Spacebar’ and ‘Ctrl + Shift + N’ shortcuts are quick and easy to use, and they can save you a lot of time and effort when you’re working with text that has various formatting options applied. Remember to select the text carefully and use the appropriate shortcut for the type of formatting you want to clear. With these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to keep your Word documents looking sharp and professional with minimal effort. So go ahead and give it a try – your future self will thank you for it!