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You can easily clear all formatting (such as bold, underline, italics, color, superscript, subscript, and more) from your text and return your text to its default formatting styles.

Note: This article explains how to remove the formatting from a document. If you need to undo an action (rather than undo formatting), see Undo, redo, or repeat an action.

  1. Select the text that you want to return to its default formatting.

  2. In Word and Publisher

    On the Home tab, in the Font group, click Clear All Formatting.

    The Clear All Formatting icon is highlighted on the Home tab

    In PowerPoint

    On the Home tab, in the Font group, click Clear All Formatting.

    The Clear All Formatting icon is highlighted on the Home tab

    In Outlook

    On the Message tab, in the Basic Text group, click Clear All Formatting.

    The Clear All Formatting Icon is highlighted on the Message tab

    OneNote

    On the Home tab, in the Basic Text group, click Clear All Formatting.

    Click the Home tab, and then click Clear All Formatting

Clear formatting from text

  1. Select the text that you want to return to its default formatting.

  2. In Word:

    On the Edit menu, click Clear and then select Clear Formatting.

    In PowerPoint:

    On the Home tab, in the Font group, click Clear All Formatting Clear All Formatting button.

Note: This action applies only to formatting that you have added or modified. It doesn't apply to default page layout styles, such as slide headers or bullet styles, that you haven't modified.

  1. Select the text you want to clear formatting from.

  2. Click the Clear Formatting button on the Home tab of the ribbon.

    Tip: It should appear just to the right of the font settings, such as font size and color, but depending on your screen size and layout you may have to click the More button (which looks like 3 dots) to see the additional buttons. 

    The more menu expanded to show the Clear formatting button.

See also

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