How do I change the default font in Word 2013?

Anonymous
2013-04-03T20:38:32+00:00

I am using Office 2013 on a Windows 7 platform. When I open Word the font is set to Calibri size 11. I would like the default to be Times Roman size 12. I cannot seem to find this as an option.

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Jay Freedman 208.3K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2013-04-03T22:02:00+00:00

In the old days, you would modify the Normal style and click the "New documents based on this template" option in the Modify Style dialog to make it change Normal.dotm. While that still sorta works, it now has some nasty side effects (such as not taking effect in tables). The right way:

  • Open a new blank document.
  • Click the Design tab.
  • Click the Fonts button (near the right end of the Document Formatting group) and click Customize Fonts at the bottom of the gallery.
  • Change the Body Font box to Times New Roman, and optionally change the Heading Font and the Name entries. Click OK
  • Click the Set as Default button (to the right of the Fonts button) and OK the prompt.
  • To change the size, first display the Styles pane (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S) and click the Manage Styles button (third from left at the bottom).
  • Go to the Set Defaults tab of the dialog. With the "+Body" entry selected in the Font box, select 12 in the Size box. Click the "New documents based on this template" option and click OK.
  • Close Word. If you're prompted to save the Normal template, say yes.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-01-06T15:33:48+00:00

    This is definitely the correct answer. I just applied this to a three page document with a table and two lists in Word 2013 and everything applied properly. Very easy and straight forward.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-11-03T15:57:53+00:00

    This works up to a point, but I found that when I pasted a table, "Use Destination Theme" would use the font from the old document, not the new one.  Jay Freedman's solution seems to fix that.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-11-03T15:53:43+00:00

    Thank you, this worked for me.  The only thing is that Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S did not bring up the Styles pane for me (I got "Apply Styles").  I had to go to the Home tab, and then, to the right of "Styles," I clicked on the little diagonal arrow.

    Initially I thought that bigc209's simpler solution would do.  But then I found that when I pasted a table with the "Use Destination Theme" option, it didn't use the right font for the contents of table cells.  With your method, the pasted contents have the font that should apply to the destination document.

    Much appreciated,

    Mark

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-09-09T04:29:52+00:00

    Jay Freedman:

    Thank-you very much. I was able to correct some homework. The font used was Calabri(?) and it looks different next to the New Times Roman. When I pasted my text citations/work citations I could not believe how goofy it made the document look. I mean completely unprofessional. That's all I need.

    Hey, thank-you much for your help.

    Also, your directions were easy to follow!!

    Well done. Thanks much again.

    Respectfully,

    Dennis Boyer.

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