Create a Custom Number Format

When you choose the Home tab and then click the down-arrow next to the Numbering button in the Paragraph group, Word displays a gallery of numbered list formats. You can choose the format you like best, or you can create a new format by using the Define a New Number Format dialog box. When creating a number format, you can set the list style, font, format, and alignment.

The Define New Number Format Dialog Box

Number Style: Use the Number Style field to select a number style. For example, select 1, 2, 3, or a, b, c. The style you select appears highlighted in the Number Format field.

Font: Click the Font button to open the Font dialog box. Use the Font dialog box to change the font, font style, font size, font color, underline style, underline color, or font effects.

Number Format Field: Use the Number Format field to add characters before or after the number style.

Alignment Field: Use the Alignment field to left-align, right-align, or center the number format.

Left aligned is the default. Left-aligned numbers appear as follows:

8
9
100

Right-aligned numbers appear as follows:

   8
   9
100

Centered numbers appear as follows:

  8
  9
100

Preview: The Preview box provides a view of how your number format will look, if selected.

Create a Number Format

1. Choose the Home tab.
2. Click the down-arrow next to the Numbering button  in the Paragraph group and then click Define New Number Format. The Define New Number Format dialog box opens.
3. Click the down-arrow next to the Number Style field and then click the Number Style you want. Word places the number style in the Number Format field.
4. Add or delete characters before or after the number format in the Number Format field.
5. Click the down-arrow next to the Alignment field and then click the alignment you want.
6. Click the Font button. The Font dialog box
7. Make any font adjustments you want.
8. Click OK. The Font dialog box closes.
9. Click OK. Word creates the number format.

Tip

If you want to make a change, such as changing the color or the font used by a numbered list, use the Font dialog box. For example, to create a numbered list with red numbers perform the following steps: 1) Choose the Home tab. 2) Click the down-arrow next to the Numbering button. A menu appears. 3) Click Define New Number Format. The Define New Number Format dialog box opens. 4) Click the Font button. The Font dialog box opens. 5) Click the down-arrow next to the Font color button and then click the color red. 6) Click OK. The Font dialog box closes. 7) Click OK. The Define New Number Format dialog box closes. The list numbers are now red. The color of the paragraph text remains the same. To learn more about how to use the Font dialog box, see Lesson 2.