Quickly Changing Tab Alignment

Word allows you to insert tabs of all types in your paragraphs. If you use styles, changing the alignment of tab stops in a particular type of paragraph is very easy. It can be more difficult if you use explicit (non-style) formatting, however.

For instance, let's say you have a hundred different paragraphs in your document, and each of them has a left-aligned tab stop at 2.25 inches. What if you want to change that tab stop so it is centered instead? Well, you could select each paragraph and manually make the change, or you could follow these steps:

1. Choose Replace from the Edit menu. Word displays the Replace tab of the Find and Replace dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
2. Make sure the insertion point is in the Find What box and that it contains no text.
3. Click on the Format button. (You may need to click on More before you can see the Format button.) Word displays a list of format options.
4. Choose Tabs from the options presented. Word displays the Find Tabs dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
5. In the Tab Stop Position dialog box, type 2.25.
6. Click on Set.
7. Click on OK. The text Tabs: 2.25" now appears below the Find What box.
8. Move the insertion point to the Replace With box and make sure it contains no text.
9. Click on the Format button. Word displays a list of format options.
10. Choose Tabs from the options presented. Word displays the Replace Tabs dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
11. In the Tab Stop Position dialog box, type 2.25.
12. In the Alignment area, choose Center.
13. Click on Set.
14. Click on OK. The text Tabs: 2.25" Centered now appears below the Replace With box.
15. Click on Replace All.