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Ms. Word font and format change after adding table of contents. How can I prevent this?

Anonymous
2024-01-24T00:03:10+00:00

Hi. I have a problem when creating a table of contents.

So, let's say I have this document:

I would like to add 'sample text' to the list of contents. I then click on References -> Add Text -> Level 1 or Level 2 (whichever is appropriate). And here's what happened after it was added to the table of contents:
![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/fd42fe97-a89f-4915-87c9-043a2c60db9a?platform=QnA"https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/19d0716c-5e97-4641-b34c-354d8f7fd78d?platform=QnA" title="filestore.community.support.microsoft.com" rel="ugc nofollow">

This is Times New Roman, 20, bold, and centered text. I then add it to the level 2 table of contents, and here's what happens afterward:

As you can see, the text is now using Calibri, font 14, with numbering and italic formatting.

So, whenever I add a new table of contents, I must always change the font, remove the numbering, remove the italic formatting, and re-center it manually.

Also, I can't re-center it automatically because the center before adding the table of contents and after is different. It is slightly to the left, so not centered. I then also need to add a single tab to it so that it is placed right in the center.

How do I add text to the table of contents without changing its formats?

*If you need to see the file, the file is private files, not public ones.. so please tell me how can I share you the file privately, thank you.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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  1. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 322.9K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2024-02-03T09:11:27+00:00

    Assuming that your Table of Contents is based on the Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 2 styles, after selecting the text that you want to appear in the Table of Contents, apply the appropriate Heading 1, Heading 2 or Heading 3 style by selecting that style from the Styles Gallery on the Home Tab of the ribbon. If that changes to the font from the one that you want, click on Undo and with the text selected, right click on the style in the Styles gallery and then click on Update [Style Name] to Match Selection.

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  2. Suzanne S Barnhill 277.1K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2024-01-24T01:08:35+00:00

    What is happening when you try to add the heading to the TOC is that Word is applying the Heading 1 style. Instead of doing it this way, select the heading with the preferred formatting (regardless of what style it's in), then right-click on Heading 1 in the Styles pane and choose "Update Heading 1 to match formatting." Then apply Heading 1 to that and other Level 1 heading paragraphs, and they will look like you want and also appear in the TOC. Do the same for Heading 2 and any other levels.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-02-03T08:35:21+00:00

    What is happening when you try to add the heading to the TOC is that Word is applying the Heading 1 style. Instead of doing it this way, select the heading with the preferred formatting (regardless of what style it's in), then right-click on Heading 1 in the Styles pane and choose "Update Heading 1 to match formatting." Then apply Heading 1 to that and other Level 1 heading paragraphs, and they will look like you want and also appear in the TOC. Do the same for Heading 2 and any other levels.

    Hi Suzanne! Sorry for the late reply! I hardly opened Outlook mail for the past few days; the website wouldn't load, and I couldn't even get the question follow-up email!

    I'm sorry, I'm not sure if I understand you well. so,what I'm going to do is right click on the text before I add them to table of content?Where can I find that heading 1 after right click?

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