Word for Mac, font and the point size change

Question

Word for Mac, font and the point size change

Coach Neil Cook 0

when I'm working in an existing Word (for Mac) document that was started with a template I created, the existing default font and point size change. why?

Stefan Blom 348.9K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-08-04T17:59:17.93+00:00

Could you elaborate on when you see the font changing? At any time during typing? Or specifically when you press Enter to create a new text paragraph, perhaps?
Coach Neil Cook 0 Reputation points

2026-08-04T20:31:28.3333333+00:00

Problem solved - hidden "characters" font formatting, metadata at the end of the line of text and hidden paragraph mark. Fixed.
Coach Neil Cook 0 Reputation points

2026-08-04T23:50:11.1333333+00:00

Next test - new table, font is Times New Roman, 10 pt. Default (or assigned) font and point size at the location I Insert a new table is Raleway 8pt. Table becomes Times New Roman 10 pt. When the table is inserted the font shows Raleway 10pt. when I type anything it changes to Times New Roman 10pt!
Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

8 answers

Your answer

Stefan Blom 348.9K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-08-04T17:59:17.93+00:00

Could you elaborate on when you see the font changing? At any time during typing? Or specifically when you press Enter to create a new text paragraph, perhaps?
Coach Neil Cook 0 Reputation points

2026-08-04T20:31:28.3333333+00:00

Problem solved - hidden "characters" font formatting, metadata at the end of the line of text and hidden paragraph mark. Fixed.
Coach Neil Cook 0 Reputation points

2026-08-04T23:50:11.1333333+00:00

Next test - new table, font is Times New Roman, 10 pt. Default (or assigned) font and point size at the location I Insert a new table is Raleway 8pt. Table becomes Times New Roman 10 pt. When the table is inserted the font shows Raleway 10pt. when I type anything it changes to Times New Roman 10pt!
Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

Answer 1

John Korchok 235.5K Volunteer Moderator

Unexpected font changes can be due to the style font not using the font theme. This is more often a problem on the Mac platform, because there is'nt built-in method to create a font theme in Office. Here is my article on how to create a font theme for Office for Mac: OOXML Hacking: Font Themes. Apply the theme to your template or document, then the problem may go away.

Coach Neil Cook 0 Reputation points

2026-08-04T23:56:09.9966667+00:00

see my additional comments

Answer 2

Stefan Blom 348.9K MVP Volunteer Moderator

This is in the last row in a table.

For text in a table, setting the default font is crucial to get consistent formatting. Use the Default button in the Font dialog box. Also verify that the Normal style gets those same settings (which it should but it is best to double-check).

0 comments

Answer 3

Stefan Blom 348.9K MVP Volunteer Moderator

Problem solved - hidden "characters" font formatting, metadata at the end of the line of text and hidden paragraph mark. Fixed.

I'm glad you have seen progress, but I'm afraid your brief statement doesn't tell us much about the problem, or the solution.

Are you saying that direct formatting needed to be removed? For example, did you select text and press Control+SpaceBar to remove direct character formatting (= character formatting which is not part of the underlying paragraph style)?

Coach Neil Cook 0 Reputation points

2026-08-04T23:43:01.4466667+00:00

I'm on a Mac so Control+space bar doesn't work. I reformat the location (no characters are there, just a hidde Paragraph marker). When I reformat that spot, and press return, the "phantom" font and point size return. The Style pane also shows the "default" font and point size. The location shows a different font and point size. Deleting the line doesn't fix it, I create a new line, type "Print:" bold the word "Print" but not ":" and press Return. the phantom font and point size return! This is in the last row in a table. The Word document is old and been used for decades, so there's lots of hidden information and metadata in it. If I delete the row (last row in the tale) and type "Print:" bold the word Print and press Return, the hidden font and point sie reappears. If I create another row - new last row, the same thing happens - type the word "Print" bold it, add ":" press return, and Time New Roman 12 pt appears where the cursor is! Everything before is Raleway 8pt. If I select the Paragraph indicator it shows Raleway 8pt, it I delete the second paragraph indicator the font is shown as Raleway 8pt, press enter again, cursor location shows Times New Roman `12pt! I can't find where the Times New Roman 12 pt is hidding.

Answer 4

Coach Neil Cook 0

another test - new document, remember the one with the font/pt size problem is OLD. New document the font switching doesn't happen. I can't find a Table format default, any help there?

0 comments

Answer 5

Coach Neil Cook 0

Problem solved - hidden "characters" font formatting, metadata at the end of the line of text and hidden paragraph mark. Fixed.

Coach Neil Cook 0 Reputation points

2026-08-04T23:43:54.4466667+00:00

Problem "mostly" solved, it is reappearing in a specific location in the same file.