how to remove highlighting in word table of contents

When working with Microsoft Word, you may have encountered a situation where your text is automatically highlighted, making it difficult to focus on your work. This issue is more common when creating tables of contents or other documents that require precise formatting. Removing highlighting can be a frustrating task, but don't worry; we've got you covered.

To start with, let's identify the reasons behind this problem. In Word, there are several settings that could be causing your text to highlight automatically. One possible reason is the 'Show/Hide White Space' option, which is enabled by default in most installations. This feature allows you to view the white space between pages and can sometimes cause text to become highlighted.

To turn off this feature, you can either double-click on the top or bottom edge of a page or one of the page break lines. Alternatively, you can go to Word > Preferences > View and uncheck the 'White Space' option.

Another common reason for text highlighting is the 'Extended Selection' mode in Word's status bar. If this mode is enabled, it can cause your cursor to highlight as you type. To turn off Extended Selection, right-click on the status bar at the bottom of the screen and uncheck the box next to 'Extended Selection.'

If you're still having trouble removing highlighting, there's another trick you can try. When you select text in Word, it automatically applies any formatting settings that are currently active. This means that if your text is highlighted, it will remain so until you remove the formatting explicitly. To do this, simply press Ctrl+Spacebar after selecting the text. This will remove any explicit formatting, including highlighting.

Finally, some users have reported that their keyboard properties are causing issues with text highlighting in Word. If you're experiencing problems with your cursor or text selection, try adjusting your keyboard settings by going to Settings > Control Panel > Keyboard Properties. Experiment with different settings until you find a solution that works for you.

By following these simple steps, you should be able to remove any unwanted highlighting from your Word documents and get back to work. Remember to always keep an eye on your formatting options and adjust them as needed to avoid unnecessary highlighting in the future.

How to remove highlighting in word table of contents