The heading styles are convenient but you can use any set of styles that have outline levels set for them. I like the heading styles because I can use the built-in keyboard shortcuts, they show up in the Navigation Pane, and you can use them in Tables of Contents and Cross-Reference fields. Why use Microsoft Word’s built-in heading styles? by Shauna Kelly


You can set the style for the following paragraph in your style definitions. I usually set the style for the top level to be followed by the second level and of the second level to be either the second level again or the third level.


An understanding of styles is crucial to using Word effectively.

I strongly recommend going through this short series of tutorials. I learned from them.


Basic Concepts of Microsoft Word - from Shauna Kelly (including especially)
· 1. Start typing your new document
· 2. Rules for Typing in Word
· 2.1 Why you should not press Enter at the end of every line
· 2.2 Why you should press Enter only once to end a paragraph
· 2.3 Why you should use one space after each sentence
· 3. Using Styles to Format Text
· 4. Use Tables and Tabs to Arrange Text in Microsoft Word
· 5. Use a bulleted paragraph style for bullets and dotpoints
· 6. Make changes, fix mistakes, edit your document
· 7. Use page numbering and let the text flow from page to page
· 8. Print your document

Word is not a typewriter, nor is it any other word processing program you may have learned. It works according to rules that are not necessarily intuitive. Spending a little time learning to use this tool will keep you from hitting yourself on the thumb with a hammer. It will save you time and frustration.

If you just want to skip to Styles, in addition to #3 above here are some articles:

• Tips for Understanding Styles in Word by Shauna Kelly
• Understanding Styles in Microsoft Word

If you don't look at them today, save them as resources.