Removing text highlighting in Word 2013 is as simple as selecting the highlighted text and clicking on the ‘Text Highlight Color’ button in the Home tab, then selecting ‘No Color’. Voila! The highlighting is gone, and your document looks crisp and clean again.
After completing this action, the text that was previously highlighted will return to its default formatting, appearing just like the rest of the text in the document. This can help make your document look more professional and easier to read.
Introduction
Have you ever been in a situation where you’re reviewing a document, and there’s so much highlighting that it looks like a fluorescent marker exploded on the page? Or maybe you’ve changed your mind about the sections of text you’ve highlighted? Whatever the case, knowing how to remove text highlighting in Word 2013 can be a life-saver.
Highlighting text is a common practice for emphasizing important information, making notes, or organizing thoughts. It’s a feature that’s used by students, professionals, and anyone who works with text documents. However, there might come a time when you need to remove the highlighting, whether it’s because the document needs to be formalized or because the highlighted sections are no longer relevant. This article is for anyone who has found themselves in such a situation and needs a quick and easy solution. Let’s dive in and learn how to make your document highlight-free in no time!
Step by Step Tutorial on Removing Text Highlighting in Word 2013
Before we start with the steps, it’s important to note that following these instructions will remove the highlighting from your text without affecting any other formatting you may have applied.
Step 1: Select the Highlighted Text
Click and drag your cursor over the text that you want to remove highlighting from, highlighting it.
When you select text in Word, it will be outlined by a grey box. Make sure you’ve selected only the text you want to remove the highlighting from, as the next steps will only apply to the text you’ve selected.
Step 2: Click on the ‘Home’ Tab
Navigate to the ‘Home’ tab on the ribbon at the top of the Word window.
The Home tab is where you’ll find most of the basic formatting options, including font type, size, color, and, of course, text highlighting.
Step 3: Click on ‘Text Highlight Color’
In the font group of the Home tab, click on the ‘Text Highlight Color’ button.
The Text Highlight Color button is usually displayed as a letter ‘A’ with a highlighter running across it. It may also display the last color of highlighter you used.
Step 4: Select ‘No Color’
From the drop-down menu that appears, select ‘No Color’.
Selecting ‘No Color’ will remove the highlighting from the selected text without altering any other text formatting.
Pros
| Benefit | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Cleaner Document | Removing unnecessary highlighting can make your document look more professional and easier to read. |
| Reversible Action | If you change your mind, you can easily re-highlight the text. |
| Focus on Relevant Text | By removing outdated highlighting, you can focus on the text that is currently relevant to your work. |
Cons
| Drawback | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Potential for Mistakes | If you’re not careful, you might remove highlighting from text that should stay highlighted. |
| Manual Process | There’s no ‘remove all highlights’ button; you have to do it manually for each section of text. |
| Time Consuming | If you have a lot of text to unhighlight, it can be a time-consuming process. |
Additional Information
While the steps above are straightforward, there are a few additional tips that can make the process of removing text highlighting in Word 2013 even easier. For starters, if you have a large document with lots of highlights, you can use the ‘Find and Replace’ function to search for all highlighted text and remove the formatting in one go.
Additionally, remember that text highlighting in Word isn’t just limited to the bright yellow that we’re all familiar with. The highlighter tool offers a range of colors, so make sure you’re removing the correct color highlight. Lastly, keyboard shortcuts can be a huge time-saver. After selecting the text, you can press ‘Ctrl+Alt+H’ to toggle highlighting on and off.
Summary
- Select the highlighted text.
- Click on the ‘Home’ tab.
- Click on ‘Text Highlight Color’.
- Select ‘No Color’.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove the highlighting from all text at once?
Yes, you can use the Find and Replace feature to remove highlighting from all text at once. Access this feature by pressing ‘Ctrl+H’.
Does removing highlighting also remove other text formatting?
No, removing highlighting does not affect any other text formatting such as bold, italics, or underlining.
Can I remove highlighting from text in a protected document?
If the document is protected, you will need permission or a password to make formatting changes, including removing text highlights.
What if the ‘No Color’ option isn’t removing the highlight?
Make sure you’ve selected the correct text and that you’re using the ‘Text Highlight Color’ option and not the text color or background color options.
Can I customize the highlight color in Word 2013?
Yes, Word 2013 offers a variety of highlight colors that you can choose from. Just click on the Text Highlight Color button and pick your preferred shade.
Conclusion
Removing text highlighting in Word 2013 is a simple yet invaluable skill that can help maintain the professionalism and readability of your documents. Whether you’re working on an academic paper, business report, or any other text-based project, knowing how to quickly and effectively remove highlighting can save you time and ensure your document presents the information clearly and without distraction.
So next time you find yourself with an overly colorful document, just remember these easy steps and make your text stand out for the right reasons.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.