Tip of the week # 427
15 August 2014


Change the text font size, the easy way (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint 2007-2013)

I'm pretty sure you are all aware that you can change the font size of your text by clicking on the down arrow at the right side of the Font Size box. You probably select one of the pre-defined sizes or you simply type the new setting. But have you noticed the two buttons to the right of the Font Size box, introduced in MS Office version 2007? These two buttons can be used to quickly make your text larger or smaller.

Here's how:

  1. Select the text that you want to change.
  2. Click the Grow Font or Shrink Font button on the Mini toolbar that appears with your text selection or use the buttons from the Font group on the Home tab.

Or, for those of you who love keyboard shortcuts, press CTRL + SHIFT + > to make the selected text larger or CTRL + SHIFT + < to make selected text smaller. (By the way, did you know that when you hover your mouse pointer over a button on the ribbon it gives you a clue what the button does, along with the keyboard shortcut, if any, associated with the button? Well, it lists CTRL+> and CTRL+<, but that doesn't work for me. I have to also use the SHIFT key.)