Using the Strong and Emphasis Styles

Documents need to use Programmatically Determinable styles for text modifications so that screen readers will interpret them correctly. Microsoft Word’s bold and italic font modifiers are not programmatically determinable, so Word users must get used to using the Strong and Emphasis styles instead.

While the Strong and Emphasis styles can be accessed using the same Style Bar where programmatically determinable structure can be applied, Word users who are used to using the keyboard shortcuts for bold and italic will be pleased to know that these can be replaced with the Strong and Emphasis styles.

Warning: Unlike italic and bold, using a keyboard shortcut for styles will turn on that style until you change it back to normal; you cannot use the keyboard shortcut to turn the style back off. This means that if you bind Ctrl+I to use the emphasis style, you have to use Ctrl+SpaceBar to go back to the Normal style.

Step-by-step Instructions for Modifying the Shortcut Keys

1. Windows: In the Home tab, in the Styles group, right-click on the Emphasis style.
   Mac: In the Home tab, click on the small arrow at the bottom right on the Styles section to pop out the menu, and then alt-click on the Emphasis style.
2. Select Modify.
3. Select the Format button and select Shortcut key.
4. Select the Press new shortcut key box, then using your keyboard, press the Ctrl and the I keys (or Command and I keys). “Ctrl+I” will appear in the box.
5. Select Assign, then click Close.
6. In the Home tab, right-click on the Strong style and follow the same steps to rebind Ctrl+B (or Command+B) to Strong.
7. When using your new keyboard shortcuts, just remember that you have to use Ctrl+SpaceBar to change back to the normal style. It is okay if it takes some practice to get used to your new work flow!