My style keeps changing, can't get saved style to apply

[Meenie50]

I have Word 2016 on my Windows 10 HP computer.
I'm an author and am working on my book manuscript. I set a style with the paragraph style I want, but as I look back through some pages I see there is different spacing between paragraphs.


I went to the style I saved for my manuscript and tried to apply it to a section that had the wrong spacing, but the wrong spacing stays the same.
What's up with this? I thought it would apply the style correctly.

[Meenie50]

I've also tried highlighting a section that is showing the way I want it to, right clicking and selection "paragraph" and choosing "default" and applying to the whole document... but it doesn't apply

[Meenie50]

I would post a pic of what each section looks like, but the forum won't let me insert a file from my computer

[JimP]

Without seeing and inspecting the file it would be difficult (for me) to render an opinion. Maybe another poster will. In the interim, have you read up on styles from Understanding styles | ShaunaKelly.com? That link is literally the bible (IMO) with regard to styles.

[Charles Kenyon]

How to attach a screenshot or file in this forum.

Chances are good that the paragraphs not changing have direct paragraph level formatting applied. Click in one such paragraph and press Shift + F1 to reveal formatting. Then check the box at the bottom about style source. Word's Reveal Formatting Codes

[Meenie50]

Originally Posted by JimP

Without seeing and inspecting the file it would be difficult (for me) to render an opinion. Maybe another poster will. In the interim, have you read up on styles from Understanding styles | ShaunaKelly.com? That link is literally the bible (IMO) with regard to styles.

Thanks JimP - I'll read through that, it should be helpful regardless

[Charles Kenyon]

Originally Posted by Meenie50

I have Word 2016 on my Windows 10 HP computer.
I'm an author and am working on my book manuscript. I set a style with the paragraph style I want, but as I look back through some pages I see there is different spacing between paragraphs.
I went to the style I saved for my manuscript and tried to apply it to a section that had the wrong spacing, but the wrong spacing stays the same.
What's up with this? I thought it would apply the style correctly.

If the text was originally in the style you changed, it should change as well, unless there is direct formatting applied. You should only have to apply it to a section of text if that text originally had a different style applied.

Especially on an important work like your manuscript, all formatting should be done using styles, paragraph or character and none done directly. That is the only way to maintain consistent appearance in a long document.

Understanding Styles in Microsoft Word

[Meenie50]

Originally Posted by Charles Kenyon

How to attach a screenshot or file in this forum.

Chances are good that the paragraphs not changing have direct paragraph level formatting applied. Click in one such paragraph and press Shift + F1 to reveal formatting. Then check the box at the bottom about style source. Word's Reveal Formatting Codes

Thank you, Charles Kenyon,
I'll give that a try!