SAMHSA's Section 508 Resources

Microsoft Word FAQs

What styles am I allowed to use in my document?

The use of style elements in Microsoft Word creates the necessary tags needed by screen readers to navigate the document.

Lists: Use Word’s Bullet and Numbering preformatted lists as a tool to make your lists accessible.

1. Select the items to which you wish to add numbering or bullets. (Each item should be on its own line, i.e., in its own paragraph.)
2. Click Numbering or Bullets Buttons in the Formatting toolbar.

Use style elements to create headers:

1. Highlight the text you wish to format.
2. On the formatting toolbar, use the drop down menu to access the format style you wish to use.
   
3. Select the style; the highlighted text will change to the format you have chosen.
4. Use Heading 1 for the document's title.
5. Use Heading 2 for the document's main section headings.
6. Use Heading 3 for subsection headings.
7. Use Normal for regular paragraph text.
8. Heading styles should be used only to indicate the hierarchical level of a title or heading.
   

Please note: emphasize words by using bold and/or increase the font size to show text emphasis. Use heading styles only for headings and sub headings.

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Last Update: 08/13/2008