Formatting Line Numbers

Word allows you to add line numbers to your documents, as you have learned in other issues of WordTips. You might be wondering how to change the formatting of the line numbers. Word makes it quite simple by relying on styles for its line numbers. Simply follow these steps if you are using Word 2007:

1. Display the Home tab of the ribbon.
2. Click the small icon at the bottom-right of the Styles group. Word displays the Styles pane at the right side of the desktop.
3. Hover the mouse pointer over the Line Number style. Notice that a downward-pointing arrow appears at the right side of the style name. (If the Line Number style is not visible, use the Options link at the bottom of the Styles pane to change which styles are displayed in the pane.)
4. Click on the downward-pointing arrow and choose the Modify option from the resulting menu. Word displays the Modify Style dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
5. Click on Format and choose the portion of the style you want to change. The options available through the Format button utilize dialog boxes with which you are already familiar.
6. Click on OK to save your modifications.
7. Close the Styles pane, if desired.

If you are using Word 2002 or Word 2003 then you should follow these steps:

1. Choose Styles and Formatting from the Format menu. Word displays the Styles and Formatting task pane.
2. In the list of styles, hover your mouse pointer over the Line Number style. (If the Line Number style is not visible, use the Show drop-down list to choose All Styles.)
3. Click the down-arrow at the right side of the Line Number style and choose Modify. Word displays the Modify Style dialog box.
4. Make your formatting changes, as desired.
5. Click on OK to close the Modify Style dialog box.
6. Close the Styles and Formatting task pane.

If you are using Word 97 or Word 2000, you should follow these steps, instead:

1. Choose Style from the Format menu. Word displays the Style dialog box.
2. In the list of Styles, choose the Line Number style.
3. Click on the Modify button. Word displays the Modify Style dialog box.
4. Make your formatting changes, as desired.
5. Click on OK to close the Modify Style dialog box.
6. Click on Cancel to dismiss the Style dialog box.