The way I do this is by starting with the paragraph style and selecting the entire paragraph where the CC sits and applying the paragraph style to your preferred 'finished' look.

Next, ensure that the CC doesn't have a setting which overrides the paragraph style. On the Developer Tab, check the CC properties are set to either not use a style OR is set to 'Default Paragraph Font'

Finally, you set the styling for the empty CC by emptying the CC and change to Design Mode (on the Developer Tab), select the placeholder text and apply the Character Style called "Placeholder Text". Then turn off the Design Mode.

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Andrew Lockton
Chrysalis Design, Melbourne Australia