If you’ve ever been working on a document in Microsoft Word and accidentally highlighted text, don’t worry—it’s easy to fix! This guide will show you how to stop highlighting in Word, step by step, so you can make your document look just the way you want it to.
How to Stop Highlighting in Word
In the following steps, you’ll learn how to quickly and easily remove any unwanted highlighting in your Word document. These instructions will help you make your text look clean and professional.
Step 1: Open Your Document
First, open the Word document that contains the highlighted text.
Opening your document is straightforward. Just double-click the file, or open Word first, then navigate to the file and open it from there.
Step 2: Select the Highlighted Text
Next, use your mouse to select the text that is highlighted.
To select the text, click at the beginning of the highlighted section, hold down the mouse button, and drag to the end of the highlighted section. This will ensure that all the highlighted text is selected.
Step 3: Open the Home Tab
Click on the "Home" tab in the ribbon at the top of the screen.
The Home tab contains many of the basic editing tools you’re going to use. You’ll see options for font, paragraph settings, and, most importantly for us, the highlighting tool.
Step 4: Click the Highlighting Tool
In the Home tab, find the highlighting tool, which looks like a highlighter pen. Click the drop-down arrow next to it.
The drop-down arrow will show you different highlighting colors. This is the same tool you use to add highlighting, so it makes sense that you’d use it to remove it as well.
Step 5: Choose "No Color"
From the highlighting options, select "No Color."
Choosing "No Color" will remove the highlighting from the selected text. Once you click it, the text should go back to its default appearance.
After following these steps, the highlighted text in your document should return to its normal state. You can now proceed with editing your document without the distraction of unwanted highlights.
Tips for Removing Highlighting in Word
- Always double-check that you’ve selected the correct text before removing highlighting.
- If you have multiple highlighted sections, repeat the process for each one.
- Remember that highlighting is different from font color; make sure you’re using the highlighter tool.
- To avoid accidentally highlighting text in the future, click elsewhere in the document after highlighting text.
- You can use the "Clear All Formatting" tool if you want to remove multiple types of formatting at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I remove highlighting from multiple sections?
Just repeat the process for each highlighted section. Select the text, click the highlighter tool, and choose "No Color."
Can I remove highlighting from the entire document?
Yes, you can press Ctrl+A to select all text in the document, then follow the same steps to remove highlighting.
Is there a keyboard shortcut to remove highlighting?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a direct shortcut for this action. You’ll need to use the steps outlined above.
Why can’t I find the highlighting tool?
Make sure you are in the "Home" tab. The highlighting tool looks like a pen with a colored line beneath it.
Can I change the color of the highlighting instead of removing it?
Yes, simply choose a different color from the highlighting options instead of "No Color."
Summary
- Open your document.
- Select the highlighted text.
- Open the Home tab.
- Click the highlighting tool.
- Choose "No Color."
Conclusion
Removing unwanted highlighting in Word is a simple task that can make your document look more professional. By following the steps we’ve outlined, you can quickly get rid of any distracting highlights and ensure your text is clean and polished. Remember, you can always refer back to this guide if you need a refresher, and the tips section has additional pointers to make the process even smoother. Now that you know how to stop highlighting in Word, your documents will look better than ever. Happy editing!
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.