Change Alignment in One Paragraph

[JD]

I'm having a strange problem with one document.
I want to change the paragraph alignment from left to center in different
paragraphs, yet when I select a paragraph and change the alignment, the
"Center" button remains lighted for all other paragraphs, even though they
remain left aligned. When I select (or place the cursor in) another
paragraph and click the left-align button, the previous paragraph returns to
left-align.
This only happens with one document. I can change individual paragraph
alignments in other documents. Any ideas?

 

[JD]

As an addendum to the above, I have similar document that contains a series
of one-line paragraphs. When I select one paragraph and change it to "Bold,"
the entire document changes to bold. In other documents, I can make one
paragraph bold without this happening. I hope someone can explain why this
is happening and how I can correct it. Thanks so much.

 

[Bruce]

Sounds like styles are updating automatically. Click in
the offending paragraph, then click Format > Style >
Modify. You will probably find yourself in a dialog box
for formatting the Normal style, but whatever the style
the procedure is the same. Clear the check box for
Automatically Update. These instructions are for Word
2000. Later versions of Word get to the same place by a
slightly different route, but the general idea is the same.
See http://www.shaunakelly.com/word/index.html for
information about using styles. You would do well to use
styles rather than directo formatting in the situation you
describe. There is a learning curve, but it is well worth
the time it takes to learn.

 

[Bruce]

I think I forgot to add that when you are at the link I
provided you need to look at the information for Styles
and Formatting.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

See http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/Formatting/WholeDocumentReformatted.htm

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA

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[JD]

Many thanks Bruce and Suzanne. There is, indeed, a "learning curve" and I've
benefitted enormously from your help.