Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated November 21, 2020)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
As you work with styles in Word, there may come a time when you want to delete a style you previously defined. To do this, follow these steps if you are using Word 2002 or Word 2003:
If you are using Word 97 or Word 2000, then you should follow these steps instead:
Regardless of the version of Word you are using, you cannot delete styles that are predefined in Word. If you select these styles, the Delete button becomes unavailable.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1047) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Deleting Styles.
Do More in Less Time! An easy-to-understand guide to the more advanced features available in the Microsoft 365 version of Word. Enhance the quality of your documents and boost productivity in any field with this in-depth resource. Complete your Word-related tasks more efficiently as you unlock lesser-known tools and learn to quickly access the features you need. Check out Microsoft 365 Word For Professionals For Dummies today!
When you apply styles to a paragraph, you may periodically see a message asking if you want to reapply the style or ...
Discover MoreThere may be some paragraphs in a document that you don't want Word to spell- or grammar-check. You can "turn off" the ...
Discover MoreHow to apply styles to your document elements.
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2022-03-09 17:33:43
Larry Watkins
I am so sick of trying to get Microsoft Word to behave. I want to delete all styles, and then just construct my own and put them in. One of my most frustrating things is that the document looks great sometimes, then it will flip out and add several paragraph symbols and number them, messing up my numbered headings, especially when I reset the number values. Is there a fix for this?
Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments