Text Formatting in PowerPoint

Most if not all presentations need words, since it’s one of the most representative ways of communication. Text is an indispensable element, so you should know all there is to make it appealing and useful for your audience. In this Slidesgo School tutorial, you’ll learn how to format your text in PowerPoint step by step. We’ll also talk about the Format Painter option.

Formatting the Text

To begin formatting the text in your PowerPoint presentation, follow these steps:

1. Open Your Presentation: Launch PowerPoint and open the presentation you want to modify.
2. Select Text: Highlight the text you wish to change.
3. Font Customization:
   • Navigate to the Home tab and locate the Font group. Here, you will find various options to customize your text.
   • To change the font, click the Font drop-down arrow and choose from the available fonts.

4. Adjust Font Size:
   • Select your text and click the Font Size drop-down arrow to select a new size.
   • Alternatively, you can enter a custom size by clicking the Font Size text field, typing the desired size, and pressing Enter.

5. Increase or Decrease Font Size: Use the Increase Font Size or Decrease Font Size buttons for fine adjustments.

6. Text Styles:
   • Use the Bold, Italic, and Underline buttons to emphasize your text.
   • Select the text and click the appropriate button to apply these styles.

7. Text Effects:
   • Add a shadow to your text by clicking the Shadow button.

8. Strikethrough: To cross out specific words, select the text and click the Strikethrough button.

9. Text and Highlight Color: Change text and highlight colors easily:
   • Select your text, click the arrow next to Text Highlight Color or Font Color, and choose your preferred color.

10. Custom Font Color: If you don’t see the desired color, click More Colors, go to the Custom tab, and enter your RGB or HSL values.

11. Clear Formatting: If you need to remove all formatting from your text, select it and click Clear All Formatting.

Aligning the Text

Once you have formatted your text, proper alignment will enhance its appearance:

1. Horizontal Alignment:
   • Use the Left Align, Center Align, Right Align, or Justify buttons to set the text alignment.

2. Vertical Alignment:

   • To align text vertically within a text box, use the Top, Middle, or Bottom buttons in the Align Text drop-down menu.

3. Line Spacing:

   • Adjust spacing between lines by selecting your text, clicking the Line Spacing drop-down arrow, and choosing a value.

4. Custom Line Spacing:
   • For specific line spacing, select the text, click the Line Spacing drop-down arrow, choose Line Spacing Options, enter values, and click OK.

5. Text Direction: Modify the orientation of the text by using the Text Direction drop-down arrow.

Using the Format Painter

The Format Painter tool in PowerPoint is incredibly useful for applying a consistent format across different text elements:

1. Select Text Format: Highlight the text with the desired format and click Format Painter.

2. Apply Format: A paintbrush icon will appear next to your cursor. Select the text where you want to apply the copied format, and it will update automatically.

3. Multiple Applications: For applying the same format to multiple texts, double-click Format Painter. After selecting your initial text, you can continue selecting additional text elements without reactivating the tool.

4. Finish Up: When you’re done, click Format Painter again or press Esc to exit the tool.