Scaling Characters

Word provides a way you can adjust the horizontal size of characters in your document. Actually, the scaling can be applied to any characters in a selection. To format characters in this way, follow these steps:

1. Select the characters you want to scale.
2. Display the Font dialog box. In versions of Word prior to Word 2007 you do this by choosing Format | Font. In Word 2007 you simply need to press Ctrl+D.
3. Make sure the Character Spacing tab is selected. (Click here to see a related figure.)
4. Use the Scale drop-down list to specify the scaling you want applied to the characters. You can select from a pre-defined scale, or enter any value between 1% and 600%.
5. Click on OK.

If you find you have a need to scale quite a few selections in your documents, you can add a scaling tool to a toolbar by following these steps pre-Word 2007:

1. Choose Customize from the Tools menu. Word displays the Customize dialog box.
2. Make sure the Commands tab is selected. (Click here to see a related figure.)
3. In the Categories list, select Format.
4. In the Commands list, select Character Scaling.
5. Use the mouse to drag the selected command to the position you want it to occupy on your toolbars.
6. Click on Close to dismiss the Customize dialog box.

If you are using Word 2007, then the tool can be added to the Quick Access toolbar by following these steps:

1. Click the Office button and then click Word Options. Word displays the Word Options dialog box.
2. At the left side of the dialog box, click the Customize option.
3. Using the Choose Commands From drop-down list, choose All Commands.
4. Scroll through the list of commands until you find the Character Scaling command.
5. Select the command by clicking it once.
6. Click the Add button. The command now appears at the right side of the dialog box.
7. Click the OK button. The command now appears on the Quick Access toolbar.

With the Character Scaling tool in place, you can easily change the scaling of any selected text at any time.