Searching for Character Formatting

Summary: Word doesn't limit you to searching only for text. You can also, among other things, search for text formatted in a specific manner. This tip explains how you can easily perform such a search. (This tip works with Microsoft Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, and Word 2003.)

Word has a very powerful search capability that allows you to find not just text but the formats of text as well. To search for character formatting, follow these steps:

Choose Find from the Edit menu, or press Ctrl+F. Word displays the Find tab of the Find and Replace dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
Make sure the Find What box is empty.
Click on the More button. The dialog box is enlarged.
Click on the No Formatting button, if it is available.
Click on Format, then choose the Font option. Word displays the Find Font dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
Select the character attributes for which you want to search. If a check box is selected, the text matched must have the corresponding attribute. If the check box is empty, then the text won't have that attribute. A shaded box means the attribute doesn't matter.
Click on OK.
Click on Find Next.

Tip #256 applies to Microsoft Word versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

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Searching for Character Formatting