How to change font size of Japanese only, in a long document containing both Japanese and English

Question

I have a long Word 2010 document containing both Japanese (MS PGothic) and English (Arial). I tried to set them up initially to be different sizes but Word would not do that. But the Japanese font is simply too hard to read, so I need to somehow change (enlarge) the font size of Japanese only, I have tried search & replace, being sure to specify Asian text and the MS PGothic font. Word simply changes (enlarges) ALL font sizes (including Arial) regardless. Is there a solution for this, or I am I asking for the impossible?

Answer 1

Use different styles to format your English text and Japanese text.

These can include the following attributes:

• Proofing language
• Typeface/font
• Size

References:

• https://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/stylesImportance.htm
• https://www.shaunakelly.com/word/styles/stylesms.html
• https://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/styles.htm

Answer 2

force two different font sizes for Body text into the same Style

Different styles! One for the Japanese text, one for the English text.

Answer 3

For anyone who may encounter this problem (there was a similar post regarding Korean some years ago) I found a complete workaround. It does not involve changing font sizes, but it solves the problem of legibility. Noto Sans is very similar to MS PGothic in appearance, but slightly larger, heavier and more legible in smaller font sizes. Also, the Latin alphabet output of Noto Sans is very similar to Arial (as is the font on this text box). However, Noto Sans divides all words (both Japanese and English) at the end of lines regardless of Western norms; any word can be divided at any point. So area may be divided as "are a" (with "a" on a new line). The solution: (1) convert the entire document (Ctrl-A) to Noto Sans. Then (2) convert the entire document (Ctrl-A) to Arial. Since there are no Japanese fonts for Arial, only the Latin letters will be converted. And the arbitrary division of words at the end of lines is eliminated.

Answer 4

Are you saying that the options for complex scripts are not available in your installation (see https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/4871427/ ) or are you saying that they do not work, with regards to point size?

Answer 5

I found a complete working solution elsewhere; I am posting it here to help anyone who has the same problem.

Word 2007 physically locks that font size box so that typing a number in one field instantly overwrites the other. The software simply will not allow two different font sizes to exist in that menu.

Because Word forces them to match, the only way to get 12pt Western text and 14pt Asian text is to bypass the Font dialog entirely using the workaround below. (I have just tested this and it works perfectly.)

If your document is already typed out and both fonts are stuck at size 12, you can use Word's advanced Find and Replace to target only the Asian text and boost it to 14 without touching your Western text.

1.    Press Ctrl + H to open the Find and Replace window.

2.    Click the More >> button at the bottom left to reveal advanced options.

3.    Click inside the Find what box at the top.

4.    Look at the very bottom of the window, click the Format button, and select Language.

5.    Select your specific East Asian language (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, or Korean) and click OK.

o   (You will see "Language: [Your Asian Language]" appear right under the Find what box).

6.    Leave the Find what text box completely blank.

7.    Click inside the Replace with box and leave the text completely blank as well.

8.    Click the Format button at the bottom again, but this time select Font.

9.    In the size box, type or select 14, then click OK.

10.          Click Replace All. Word will scan the document and instantly resize only the Asian characters to 14pt.