This is about numbering but not creating or formatting its more a general document composiion question.

1. HEADER 1
1.2. Header 2

Some text content here



1.3. Header 3

Some more text content here.

2. HEADER 1
2.1. Header 2 but in this case there is no header it is just a paragraph and i dont want the header formatting.So in diffrerent parts of the document header level 2 may be a header or just a numbered paragraph. How is this normally dealt with.

what I would like:


1. HEADER 1
1.2. Header 2

Some text content here

1.3. Header 3

Some more text content here.

2. HEADER 1
2.1. Header 2 but in this case there is no header it is just a paragraph and i dont want the header formatting.So in diffrerent parts of the document header level 2 may be a header or just a numbered paragraph. How is this normally dealt with.

Hope thats clear.


thanks

Steve

First, there is an important difference between headers and headings in Word jargon. Searching for help on one when you mean the other will frustrate you.
What is the difference between headings and headers?

See How to create numbered headings or outline numbering in Ribbon Versions of Word by Shauna Kelly

Big idea #1 - Follow Shauna's directions, all of them!

Big idea #2 - You do not need to use heading styles. You can use others but they will have to be separate paragraph styles for each level and you will be assigning an outline level to them. You want the styles to be existing before you set up the numbering.

Big idea #3 - If you are not otherwise using the lower heading styles, you might as well use them for this. There are big advantages to the heading styles, magical properties, in Word. You can modify the style to have any formatting you want. It does not need to look different from your body text.
Why use Microsoft Word’s built-in heading styles? by Shauna Kelly

Big idea #4 - Use styles to assign your numbering in the document once you have this set up. Do not use the numbering buttons in the ribbon!

Two different styles for level 2?

You could have a second paragraph style based on your level-2 style that does not have the underlining. Basing it on that, it would still have the outline level.

Note, your 1.3 should be level 2, not level 3.

thanks - got it now.

To add to what Charles has said, you could change the Outline Level of the "child" style, if you want, so that it isn't treated as a heading. Actually, you can change any aspects of the style, as long as you leave the numbering (if you try to modify the numbering of the "child" style, the list formatting will break).

__________________
Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Here is a screenshot showing creation of the non-heading style. You would also likely want to change the settings on the second paragraph formatting tab to not have it "keep with next" or "keep lines together."


You would create this style after setting up the numbering.

Attached Images

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