Overview
Reminder
All Self-Serve Courses are cumulative and in order. Do not start this section if you have not completed the preceding Self Serve Courses or attended training provided by EIR Accessibility.
In this Section
What Are Styles?
Styles in Word are is used to mark Headings and body text. (See more about Headings.)
Styles do three things:
- Apply formatting (such as typeface and color)
- Apply tags to make content navigable for those using assistive devices
- Generate a “clickable” table of contents in Word and in PDF
Best practices for using Styles include:
- Do not use direct formatting from the Home tab for anything. Always use Styles.
- Mark headings in order using Styles.
- Use strong or emphasis Styles, not bold or italics.
- Use real bullet and list Styles, not special characters.
- Use both the Styles Pane and the Document Map.
Access the Styles Pane
- Go to the Home tab on the ribbon in Word to access Styles on the Home tab. (Windows and Mac.)
- Click the icon for Styles Pane in the upper right corner. (Mac only.)
Access the Document Map (Mac) or Headings (Windows)
The Document Map on Mac and Headings pane on Windows make it easy to see what headings have been applied and whether they are structured in a logical hierarchy.
It allows you to click on each heading and jump between sections of the document quickly. It creates a picture of the document outline, which is essential for longer documents.
- Go to the View tab on the ribbon in Word. (Windows and Mac)
- Choose Navigation Pane. (Windows and Mac)
- Click the icon that resembles a bulleted list to access the Document Map. (Mac).
- Click the tab for Headings. (Windows.)
