Style Names Can Affect Style Definitions

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 27, 2019)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003


I dislike Word's pseudo-small caps, which are just reductions of full-size caps. So I use a font (Linux Libertine) that has a sister font (L-Libertine C) in which the lowercase letters are replaced by true typographic small caps. It provides a much better look to my documents.

I also control the formatting in Word documents by using styles. I created a style that uses the small caps font I like and I named the style "Style Linux Libertine small caps". In the Format tab of the Font dialog box I did not tick the Small Caps check box because the true small caps are already there in the lowercase range for the font. Even so, after every save and restart, Word ignored that empty check box and created pseudo-small caps out of the L-Libertine C font's uppercase character set; it ignored the actual lowercase typeface entirely.

In investigating this situation, it seems that simply putting the phrase "small caps" in the style name is enough for Word to override the settings in the style definition. When I took the words "small caps" out of the style name, Word had no problem using the typeface as it should have all along.

The moral of the story is that if you are using styles and Word overrides your definitions, you may want to experiment with the name you use for the style definition.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (7601) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Jumping to the Top of a Page

Do you want to easily jump to the top of a page in your document? You can use the Go To command to make the shift, or you ...

Discover More

Updating to Smart Quotes

As you type a document, Word automatically converts your quote marks and apostrophes to "curly" versions that look more ...

Discover More

Generating Random Strings of Characters

If you need to generate a random sequence of characters, of a fixed length, then you'll appreciate the discussion in this ...

Discover More

Discover the Power of Microsoft Office This beginner-friendly guide reveals the expert tips and strategies you need to skyrocket your productivity and use Office 365 like a pro. Mastering software like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is essential to be more efficient and advance your career. Simple lessons guide you through every step, providing the knowledge you need to get started. Check out Microsoft Office 365 For Beginners today!

More WordTips (menu)

Understanding Styles

Styles are a key concept in Microsoft Word. If you understand styles, you will find it much easier to use Word effectively.

Discover More

Finding Unused Styles

Use this VBA macro to determine which styles are being used in the current Word document.

Discover More

Protecting Styles

If you spend a lot of time getting your document styles set "just right," you don't want to take the chance that they ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is one less than 8?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


This Site

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.

Videos
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.