Hyperlink Formatting

By default, Word recognizes network and hyperlink addresses and formats them much as you would see them appear on a Web page. Normally, this means that the text shows up as blue and underlined. Word provides the ability for you to change the way in which hyperlinks are formatted throughout your document. This is because default formatting for hyperlinks is done using a defined character style. To change the formatting of your hyperlinks, follow these steps if you are using Word 2002 or Word 2003:

1. Choose the Styles and Formatting option from the Format menu. Word displays the Styles and Formatting pane.
2. Using the Show drop-down list at the bottom of the Styles and Formatting pane, make sure you select All Styles.
3. In the list of styles, hover the mouse pointer over the Hyperlink style. You should see a drop-down arrow appear at the right side of the style name.
4. Click on the drop-down arrow. A menu appears.
5. Click on Modify. Word displays the Modify Style dialog box. (See Figure 1.)



Figure 1. The Modify Style dialog box.

6. Click on the Format button and choose Font from the resulting drop-down list. This displays the Font dialog box. (See Figure 2.)



Figure 2. The Font dialog box.

7. Modify the font settings for your hyperlinks, as desired.
8. Click on OK to close the Font dialog box. The Modify Style dialog box is still visible.
9. Make sure the Add to Template check box is selected, at the bottom of the Modify Style dialog box.
10. Click on OK.
11. Close the Styles and Formatting pane.

If you are using Word 97 or Word 2003, follow these steps:

1. Choose the Style option from the Format menu. Word displays the Style dialog box.
2. Use the List drop-down list (bottom left corner) to select the All Styles setting.
3. In the list of styles, select the Hyperlink style.
4. Click on the Modify button. This displays the Modify Style dialog box.
5. Click on the Format button and choose Font from the resulting drop-down list. This displays the Font dialog box.
6. Modify the font settings for your hyperlinks, as desired.
7. Click on OK to close the Font dialog box. The Modify Style dialog box is still visible.
8. Make sure the Add To Template check box is selected.
9. Click on OK to close the Modify Style dialog box.
10. Click on Close to dismiss the Style dialog box.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1728) 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: Hyperlink Formatting.