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Add the underline and the background color to the headings in the Microsoft Word

Word
Word

Using the paragraph style, Microsoft Word allows you to add lines and background colors. In addition, you can set the background colors and underline strokes. Headings that are visually distinctive and easy to understand are preferable over ones that change font size.

Also, by setting them in the heading paragraph style rather than individually in each place, you can unify the heading styles within a single document and change them all at once when you make changes.

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Draw underlines

To add underlines to the paragraph styles of Heading 1, follow the steps below.

STEP
Enter “Heading 1 Test”.
STEP
Set the paragraph style of entered line to “Heading 1”.
STEP
Right-click “Heading 1” in the toolbar, and select “Modify…”.
Select the "Modify..."
Select the “Modify…”
STEP
Click the “Font” button and select the “Border…”.
STEP
Select a solid line from the style, “Automatic” from the color, and “1/2 pt” from the width. (They are default settings)
STEP
Click the underline button.
Borders and Shading dialog
Borders and Shading dialog
STEP
After you see the underline in the preview, click the “OK” button.
STEP
After you see the underline also appears in the preview of the Borders and Shading dialog, click the “OK” button.
STEP
On the line following heading 1, type “Main Text.”.

Adjust the space between the heading and body text

The default space between the heading and body text may need to be bigger. Therefore, we’ll adjust it for better readability.

To expand the space after heading 1, change the paragraph spacing of heading 1.

STEP
Right-click “Heading 1” in the toolbar and select “Modify…”.
STEP
Click the “Format” button and select the “Paragraph…”.
STEP
Change the Spacing “After:” to the 0.5 line, and click the “OK” button.
STEP
You are back to the Modify Style dialog. Click the “OK” button to close.

Change the background color

Let’s alter the background color to enhance the prominence of the headings.

STEP
Right-click “Heading 1” in the toolbar and select “Modify…”.
STEP
Click the “Format” button and select the “Border…”.
STEP
Open the “Shading” tab.
STEP
Change the fill color to “Blue, Accent 1, Lighter 40%”.
Select the fill color
Select the fill color
STEP
Change the line color.

Open the “Borders” tab, change the color to “Blue, Accent 1”, and click the underline button two times.

The first click removes the line, and the second click adds a line with a newly selected color.

STEP
Click the “OK” button and click the “OK” button in the “Modify Style” dialog.

Configure the shading patterns

At this point, the background color might be a bit overpowering, causing the heading text to look weak. Let’s adjust this for better balance.

There are the following ways to improve the paragraph style.

  • Make the text to be bold.
  • Change the background color.
STEP
Right-click “Heading 1” in the toolbar and select “Modify…”.
STEP
Click the “Format” button and select the “Border…”.
STEP
Open the “Shading” tab.
STEP
Change the fill color to “Blue, Accent 1, Lighter 60%” and click the “OK” button.
STEP
Click the “Bold” button in the Modify Style dialog.
STEP
Click the “OK” button.

Conclusion

By adjusting the paragraph style, border, and shading settings for Heading 1, you can make your headings more noticeable and distinct, even compared to larger text.

Also, by adjusting paragraph spacing, you can create documents that are easy to read, even long ones.

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