Formatting Shortcut Key Behavior Changes in Word 2000

Word provides a large number of shortcut keys that come in quite handy as you are typing. The formatting shortcut keys are particularly helpful to those who don't want to remove their fingers from the keyboard to access some of the more common formatting tasks. For instance, you can type CTRL+U to begin underlining, and then CTRL+U again to turn it off. Similar shortcuts exist for applying bold (CTRL+B) and italics (CTRL+I).

The problem is that Microsoft introduced a subtle change in how these keys behave in Word 2000. If you are using either Word 95 or Word 97, try this:

1. Type the sentence "This is a test."
2. Position the insertion point just before the first letter "t" in the word "test."
3. Press CTRL+B. This turns on bold formatting.
4. Type the word "single," with no space or anything after it. The word should be in bold type.
5. Press CTRL+B. This turns off bold formatting.
6. Press your final space to separate the word "single" from the word "test."

Everything turned out just as you would expect it. If you have access to Word 2000, try the same steps. You should notice that when you press CTRL+B in step 5, the entire word ("single") is set back to regular type! This is not how you would expect it to work. The same problem rears its ugly head if you use the other formatting shortcuts as well.

How do you get around it? Simply switch steps 5 and 6: Make sure you press the final space before you use the "turn off" shortcut. (See--I told you it was subtle.)

It is interesting to note that this change does have some historic roots. The way that this formatting method now works in Word 2000 is exactly as it used to work in Word 6. It appears that the difference was first introduced in Word 95, continued in Word 97, and now changed back in Word 2000.

For more information on this topic, see the following tip.