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- There are two options to set the Font, Font Size or Style: either before you start typing your text or after you have typed it. In the latter case, select the whole text or the piece of text you want to format. The Font, Font Size and Style drop-down menus are placed on the toolbar.
To change the font:
- Click on the Font menu and select the font you wish to apply to your text
In order to modify the font size:
- Click on the Font Size drop-down menu and choose the size you wish to apply to your font or type the size directly into the box - a normal size is 10 or 12 points. To apply to your font properties such as bold, italic or underlined text, use the corresponding buttons on the toolbar.
If you want to apply several format styles to your text – e.g. a style for the main headings, another for the subheading, etc.:
- Go to the menu Format|Styles and Formatting
- A new window is displayed on the right-hand side containing information about the styles available
To create a new style and define its settings such as name, font, size, etc.:
- Click on New Style
- After having created Styles, you can apply them to a text by selecting the text or part of a text you want a certain style to apply to and choosing the style from the drop-down menu on the toolbar – there, you will be able to see all the default styles and the styles you created
You can also copy the formatting of a part of the text to another part by using the Format Painter icon:
- Position your pointer on the text containing the formatting you want to copy
- Click on the Format Painter icon and select with the mouse the text to which you want to apply the format. The format automatically applies to your selected text.
Why is this information important for translators and translation teachers?
Since clients could ask translators to use a different font, font size or style as in the original document or not to modify them in the translation, translators should be able to know what options are available to modify elements in a text. It is also important for translators to be aware that the properties of commonly used fonts can also be changed and modified and how to do it.