Hi Graham,
You did explain properly, with the small exception that you want to use a
macro. The procedure I gave you will do exactly what you asked, but
manually. Have you tried it?
Possibly the easiest way to get a macro is to record the manual steps as
described at
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/MacrosVBA/UsingRecorder.htm. Because
the recorder has a bug, though, you'll then have to modify the recorded
macro as explained in
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/MacrosVBA/ModifyRecordedMacro.htm.
Once you have the italics part of the macro operating correctly, you can
copy the code (except for the Sub and End Sub statements) and paste it three
more times just before the End Sub line, then change "italic" to "bold",
"subscript", and "superscript" in the copies. Running the completed macro
will make all four replacements, one after another.
One bit of possible misunderstanding: There are NO "hidden codes" for
formatting in Word. You aren't replacing codes, you're working with
properties of the text.