powerpoint presentation highlight text

How-To Geek

How to highlight text in your powerpoint presentation.

Draw attention to certain text in your presentation by highlighting it or using the glow effect.

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Highlighting text in powerpoint (office 365 subscribers), highlighting text in powerpoint (non-office 365 subscribers), using the glow text effect.

Highlighting text draws attention to it. If you subscribe to Office 365, you can highlight text directly in PowerPoint. If you use a desktop version of PowerPoint, you’ll need to use a workaround. We’ll show you both ways.

If you’re an Office 365 subscriber, go ahead and open PowerPoint and move to the slide that contains the text you want to highlight. Once there, select the text by clicking and holding the left mouse button and dragging your cursor over the text.

After you select the text, a popup presents several different font options. Go ahead and click the highlighter icon.

Your text will now be highlighted.

You can also choose between several different colors, as well. If you’d like something besides yellow, click the arrow next to the highlighter icon. A menu will then appear, presenting several different colors. Choose the one you like best.

You can also find all of these options in the “Font” section of the “Home” tab.

This method is more time consuming than it is difficult. If you’re not an Office 365 subscriber, then you don’t have a native highlight tool in PowerPoint, meaning you'll need to work in one of the other Office applications to make this work. You can use Excel or Word, whichever you prefer. We’ll be using Word.

Go ahead and open Word and enter in the text that you would like to highlight and transfer over to PowerPoint.

Select the text by clicking and holding the left mouse button and dragging the cursor over the text. Once the text is selected, a pop-up window appears, and you can click the highlight button to add highlighting. You can also click the down arrow to the highlight button's right to choose different colors.

And your text is now highlighted.

Select the text again, then press Ctrl+C to copy the text to your clipboard and then head back over to PowerPoint.

In PowerPoint, paste the text wherever you want it by pressing Ctrl+V. Your text will now appear in the slide but without the highlight.

Next, in the “Paste Options” menu that appears, select the “Keep Source Formatting” option.

Your text will now appear with the highlight.

While this isn’t exactly highlighted text, the effect is very similar. If you’re not an Office 365 subscriber and you don't want to open up a different Office application to highlight your text and transfer it over, you could consider using PowerPoint’s “Glow” effect.

First, select that text.

Next, in the “WordArt Styles” group of the “Format” tab, click “Text Effects.”

Select “Glow” from the menu that appears.

A sub-menu will appear with different colors for the glow effect. If you find the one you like, go ahead and select it. In this example, we’re looking for a yellow glow, so we’ll select “More Glow Colors” at the bottom of the menu.

Finally, we’ll select yellow.

Your text will now take on the yellow glow effect, looking very similar to highlighted text.

How to highlight text in any version of PowerPoint, even if you don't have the option in your toolbar

• You can only highlight text in PowerPoint directly if you have PowerPoint 2019 or subscribe to Microsoft Office 365.
• If you have an earlier version of PowerPoint or don't subscribe to Office 365, there are still a few workarounds you can use to either actually highlight your text, or achieve the same effect.
• Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories .

You may think that highlighting text in Microsoft   PowerPoint is a simple action, but if you don't use PowerPoint 2019 or are not an Office 365 subscriber, it's not as easy as you think.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Microsoft office (from $149.99 at best buy), microsoft office 365 (from $69.99 at best buy), how to highlight text in powerpoint if your version has the option available in the toolbar .

1. Go to the "Home" tab.

2. Select the desired text using your cursor.

3. Click on the highlight text button in the fonts section and use the dropdown menu to select the color you want.

If you want to continue highlighting multiple pieces of non-contiguous text, simply click the highlight button without selecting any text. You'll see a little highlighter symbol appear next to your cursor — this means that any text you select with your cursor will automatically be highlighted. 

To turn this feature off, just click the highlight button again.

This is how you highlight text using PowerPoint 2019 or an Office 365 subscription. However, if you're not lucky enough to have either of those, you'll need to use one of three workarounds in order to highlight text in PowerPoint. The first method is pretty rudimentary, but it gets the job done.

How to highlight text in PowerPoint using Word  

1. Cut the desired text out of your slide and paste it into Microsoft Word.

2. Highlight the text in Word, following the instructions given above.

3. Cut the newly-highlighted text out of the Word doc and paste it back into your PowerPoint slide. 

If you'd rather not do all the cutting and pasting, or you don't want to open another application, though, there are still ways to highlight text using only the tools PowerPoint provides. For one thing, you could fake a highlight by inserting a shape into your presentation.

How to highlight text in PowerPoint by inserting a shape

1. In the PowerPoint toolbar, go to the "Insert" tab.

2. Click the "Shapes" button.

3. Select a shape from the menu. If you want to disguise it as a normal highlight, you can select the rectangle — however, if you want to make your highlight look more fun, you can choose a different shape instead.

4. Use the cursor to create the dimensions of the shape around the area of text you want to highlight. When you're done, click "Shape Fill" on the toolbar and select a color. 

5. On the right side of the toolbar, click the "Send Backward" button to send the highlight shape back a letter so that the text is on top of it. If your PowerPoint has multiple layers to it, you may need to do this more than once.

If you're not too committed to the traditional highlight shape, and you would like a way to draw attention to your text that doesn't require so many steps, your final option is to apply a glow effect to text instead of highlighting it. 

How to highlight text in PowerPoint by adding a glow effect  

1. Click on your text box and go to the "Format" tab that appears in the toolbar. Depending on your version of PowerPoint, this tab may be called "Shape Format."

2. Highlight the text you want to enhance using your cursor.

3. On the right side of the "Format" tab, click "Text Effects," denoted by a glowing blue "A" icon.

4. Select "Glow" (or any other effect you think would work) from the drop-down menu.

5. Choose the color and size you want for your glow effect.

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How to embed a youtube video into your microsoft powerpoint presentations using a mac or pc, how to convert a powerpoint to google slides in two different ways, how to convert google slides to a powerpoint presentation in 4 easy steps , how to copy or duplicate a powerpoint slide and put it anywhere in your slideshow, how to download and access microsoft powerpoint on your mac computer.

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How to Highlight in PowerPoint

Last Updated: November 6, 2020

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA . Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. This article has been viewed 17,290 times. Learn more...

This wikiHow will teach you how to use PowerPoint's color highlighter feature to highlight text in a presentation. You can highlight text in both the Windows and macOS versions of PowerPoint, as well as in the free version of PowerPoint on the web. If you're using a phone or tablet, you'll need to send the file to your computer if you want to highlight text.

Using PowerPoint for Windows or macOS

• To remove a highlight, select the text, go back to the Home tab and select "No color" from the text highlight drop-down. [2] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source

Using PowerPoint Online

• Log in if prompted.

• To remove a highlight, select the text, go back to the Home tab and select "No color" from the text highlight drop-down.

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You might also like.

• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/highlight-your-text-28623777-d955-4fcf-bbc5-a50051552219#requirements_win32&OfficeVersion=macOS
• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/highlight-your-text-28623777-d955-4fcf-bbc5-a50051552219#requirements_win32&OfficeVersion=Windows
• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/highlight-your-text-28623777-d955-4fcf-bbc5-a50051552219#requirements_win32&OfficeVersion=Web

About This Article

1. Open your PowerPoint project. 2. Select the text you want to highlight. 3. Click the Home tab. 4. Click the downwards-pointing arrow next to the highlight icon. 5. Click to select a highlight color. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Home / How To / How to Highlight Text in PowerPoint Presentation

How to Highlight Text in PowerPoint Presentation

How to make crucial points noticeable in the presentation? Often newbies & even pro-presenters fail to emphasize the main information, resulting in key points being unnoticeable.

When you Google, ‘’How do you show important points?’’ You will be stumped by seeing the results available. But don’t worry if you haven’t time to go through all those articles. Take a breath; we got a simple hack for you.

To grab the attention of your audience & to emphasize certain information, the best way is to highlight the text. By doing this, you can showcase key points with appealing visual effects.  

Table of contents

Powerpoint highlight text guide , highlight text in powerpoint 2019 or 365, how to highlight multiple text throughout a powerpoint file , using shapes to highlight text in powerpoint, how to highlight text in powerpoint older versions (powerpoint 2010, 2013, 2016), final words.

Highlighting text in Microsoft PowerPoint is super easy. If you are using the latest version of Microsoft Office. But unfortunately, if you are using PowerPoint 2019 or older versions, then highlighting text isn’t easy. Luckily in this guide on How to Highlight Text in PowerPoint, you will learn everything related to highlighting text in PowerPoint.

• Open an existing file or create a new presentation.
• Select the desired text you want to highlight

• Click on the TEXT HIGHLIGHT COLOR option from the HOME tab in the FONT selection.

• You will find multiple color choices; click the color of your choice & text will now be highlighted in the same color.

You can even highlight multiple texts throughout the document just by using the TEXT HIGHLIGHT COLOR tool, like a pen. To do so, follow this easy step.

• From the HOME option, click on the TEXT HIGHLIGHT COLOR option.
• Choose the color you want

• A pencil-like icon will appear and drag over the text you want to highlight. Once you release it, the text will be a highlight. Drag the cursor again on the text you want to highlight.

One more creative way to highlight your text in PowerPoint is using the SHAPES tool. With this feature, you can add a colored shape behind your text. To add shapes, use this step:

• Open the slides where you want to highlight text.

• Click on INSERT > SHAPES
• Choose the shape

• Click & drag the shape so it covers the word (The word will disappear behind shapes)

• Now click SHAPE FORMAT > SHAPE FILL & choose the color you want

• Click SHAPE OUTLINE & check NO OUTLINE.

• Now click on SEND BACKGROUND to highlight text using shape.
• Now your text will appear in front of the shape.

If you are using older PowerPoint versions or are not an Office 365 subscriber, then the Text Highlight Color option isn’t available in the ribbon. However, you can copy highlighted text from word and paste it into your PowerPoint slides.

• Open a word document.
• Enter the word you want to highlight
• Click & Drag the cursor to select the word

• Click the HOME tab, and select the TEXT HIGHLIGHT COLOR option from the font section.
• Choose the color
• Your text is highlighted now.
• Copy the highlighted text (CTRL+C for Windows & CMD+C for Mac)
• Open the PPT file and place the cursor where the text appears.
• Now press CTRL+V
• Your Highlighted text will appear.

Now you have learned how to highlight text in PowerPoint. So make your content more noticeable, and never let any points go unnoticed. If you want to learn anything about PowerPoint, read our HOW TO articles.

About The Author

Priyanshu Bharat

Priyanshu is a copywriter who loves to tune into what makes people tick. He believes in presenting his ideas with flair and wit, which has made him an expert at standing on stage and charming the pants off of any audience he's faced with. Priyanshu lives for learning as much as he can, so if you ever need help understanding something - just ask!

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How to Highlight Text in PowerPoint

Is your upcoming exhibition approaching? PowerPoint presentations are excellent allies to organize and visually display your content in front of an audience of any age. 

In the midst of the design process, you may have asked yourself, "How do I emphasize idea a or concept b more?" There are many possible answers to that question! 

Start your presentation from the foundations: download a Slidesgo PowerPoint template with a look that matches the theme of your project. With the right base design, structure your information and emphasize the most important points by learning how to highlight text in PowerPoint . 

With this simple tutorial, you will learn step by step how to use this technique correctly, regardless of the version of Microsoft PowerPoint you have installed on your computer.

How to highlight text with PowerPoint's "text highlight color" option

How to highlight text in powerpoint using a shape, how to highlight text in powerpoint using microsoft word, alternative highlighting method in powerpoint: how to highlight text using the glow text effect.

Do you have a clear idea of which sentences you want to make more eye-catching? Let's start working on it!  Follow these simple steps to color the text:

• Open your PowerPoint presentation and go to the slide you want to edit. Then select the text you want to underline with your cursor.
• In the top menu bar, select the "text highlight color" option and then choose the color that you like or that best matches the shades of your design.

If the previous editing method does not convince you, you can also use the following technique: 

• Once you have your presentation open, go to the top menu and click Insert > Shapes > Rectangle. Immediately after the previous step, draw a rectangle covering the word or phrase you want to underline.
• Keeping the rectangle selected, do the following actions: go to Home Menu > Shape Outline > No Outline from the drop-down menu.
• It's time to customize the shape! Without deselecting the shape, click on the "Shape Fill" option to be able to choose a color.
• After all these steps, keeping the rectangle selected, click with the right mouse button. In the drop-down that appears, find the option "Send to Back". And now you have the text highlighted to your liking!

If your Microsoft Office package is old (versions 2010, 2013, and 2016), you may have noticed that you don't have available the PowerPoint "highlight color" option explained in the first point. But don't worry! You can use Microsoft Word and PowerPoint in parallel to highlight:

• In Microsoft Word, type or copy the text you want to underline. Check that the font size and typography match the PowerPoint text box in which you will paste the content later. After this first check, keep the text selected.
• Go to the top "Home" menu, where the text customization options appear, and click on the "text highlight color" icon, which is located to the left of the text color change icon. Click and finally choose your preferred shade.
• Select the text again and press Ctrl+C on your keyboard to copy the content.
• When you paste the content over the presentation, a pop-up will appear that you must open and make sure that the "use destination theme" option is checked if you do not want to lose the shading, font type, and font size.

In this tutorial, we bring you not one, not two, not three alternatives, but four ways to emphasize your PowerPoint presentation!

The following way to add unhighlighting to your content is different from the others from a visual point of view. How does it work? We explain it step by step below:

• Are you on the slide you are going to work on? Perfect! Select the text you are going to use first.
• Now let's apply the glow text effect. You will see a tab called "shape format" appear in the top menu. Click on it and perform the following steps: Shape Formatting > Text Effects > Glow.

As you can see, a submenu appears with different colors for the glow effect. Do you like one of them? Just click on it! However, if you want a color that is not available in that first sample, we recommend you go to the "more glow colors" option.

To show you the different methods of highlighting, we have used a template called Virtual Reality Workshop , but you can apply them in any of our customized PowerPoint templates . Let's get started!

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5 Creative Ideas to Highlight Text In PowerPoint

Home  > All PowerPoint Tutorials >  PowerPoint Animation > Highlight Text in PowerPoint

Learn 5 innovative techniques to emphasize and draw attention to specific text in your PowerPoint presentations. Our straightforward, step-by-step instructions will elevate the appearance and impression of your business slides.

Why is highlighting text in PowerPoint important?

Highlighting specific text is a common necessity for business presenters. However, unlike Word, PowerPoint does not offer pre-made options to emphasize text. In this article, we will demonstrate five imaginative ways to highlight your text using PowerPoint animation. These highlights will appear on click, amplifying the impact of your message and captivating your audience.

1. Using Animated Circles to Highlight Text in PowerPoint

Have you ever wanted to draw attention to a specific piece of information in your PowerPoint presentation? Look no further than the animated circle technique. 

Animated Circle Highlight in PowerPoint

Steps to create this highlight: 

To create an animated circle highlight, follow these steps: 1. Choose the portion of text or image you want to highlight. 2. Draw an oval shape to cover the portion completely. 3. Choose "No fill" for the oval's fill color. 4. Choose a line color of your choice and set the line weight to 3 points for maximum clarity. 5. Select the oval and go to custom animation. 6. Choose "Entrance" and then select "Wheel" from the drop-down menu. 7. In the custom animation pane, choose "Effect options" and select "1 spoke." 8. Your animated circle highlight is now ready to use in your presentation.

Where to use this technique: 

This simple yet effective method can be used to highlight numbers, maps, tables, diagrams, and more.

One of the great things about this technique is that once you've created the highlight, you can easily reuse it in future presentations. Just be aware that any animations you've added will also be copied over. You may be interested in reading about  Best Practices in PowerPoint Performance Reports

2: Using Change color option

Observe the following slide:

Highlight PowerPoint Text

1. Select the text you wish to emphasize. 2. Navigate to the custom animation pane. 3. Choose "Emphasis" and then "Brush Color." 4. Upon completion, click the drop-down menu in the custom animation pane. 5. Select "Effect Options" and choose the color that best suits your needs.

The "Change Color" option serves as a viable alternative to circle animation. This technique is particularly useful when highlighting numerical data.

Related:  Data Presentation – 5 PowerPoint Tips

3: Using Animated Highlight Fill

Here is a simple yet effective highlight option:

1. Select the text you wish to highlight and draw a rectangle that completely covers it.

2. Choose the fill color and line color of your choice, and then select "no line color" for the rectangle. 3. Once you have created the rectangle, highlight it and navigate to the custom animation tab. From there, select "Wipe" as the entrance effect and choose "Left to right" as the direction.

4. Right-click on the shape and send it to the back, so it is behind the text you want to highlight.

Related:  Animation Effects Tutorials

This animation effect is particularly useful for highlighting specific parts of a diagram. To do so, use the "Free form tool" to trace the portion you wish to highlight, and then adjust the fill color and transparency levels as desired.

For ready to use, creative animated list templates, do check our 140 PowerPoint List Templates Pack

4: Using Animated Arrow

Animated arrows are a great way to draw attention to specific text or images in your PowerPoint presentations.

Animated Arrow Highlight Effect

1. Choose the text or image you want to highlight. Draw an arrow pointing to it, as shown in the example slide. 2. Choose a fill color for your arrow that complements your presentation's color scheme. Then, select "No line color" for a clean and modern look. 3. Highlight the arrow and go to the custom animation menu. Choose "Motion paths" and select "Up" to make the arrow move in an upward direction. 4. Click on the drop-down menu in the custom animation pane and choose "Effect options." Select "Auto reverse" to make the arrow move up and down repeatedly. 5. Choose your timing by selecting "Repeat 2 times" to ensure that the animation is not too distracting or overwhelming. 6. If you want the arrow to exit after highlighting, choose "Exit animation" and select "Fade." Let the exit animation happen "after previous" to ensure a smooth transition.

Animated arrows are particularly useful when you want to highlight specific parts of a quote or image. They are also great for showing busy images or maps, as the movement of the arrow attracts the audience's attention and focuses it on the area you want to highlight.

Related:  3D PowerPoint Arrow tutorials

5: Using ‘Darken’ custom animation

Take a look at the following slide:

Darken Highlight for PowerPoint Text

The ‘Darken’ custom animation technique is particularly useful when you have an underlying shape with text written over it. By using the ‘Darken’ effect, you can highlight the shape and differentiate the text from the rest of the content on the slide.

1. Ensure that the text and shape are separate. 2. Choose the shape you want to highlight. 3. Go to custom animation -> Emphasis -> Darken. 4. This will darken the underlying shape and make the text stand out.

The ‘Darken’ effect is perfect for when you want to use the agenda as a guidepost for your presentation and highlight the section you will cover next. By drawing attention to the shape and text, you can keep your audience engaged and focused on the key points of your presentation.

Now that we are done with the 5 ways to highlight text, you can find...

More text animation ideas in this video: 

Incorporating simple highlight custom animation techniques into your PowerPoint presentations is an effective way to keep your audience engaged. Give it a try and see the difference it can make in your next presentation!

If you prefer to use ready-made creative animated list templates, do check our 140 PowerPoint List Templates Pack

You can preview some templates from this pack below:

Add On 140 PowerPoint List Templates

Key Points from 140 List Templates

Highlight Effect in Add On List Templates

Click to Browse 140 List Templates

For more helpful tutorials on animation effects, be sure to check out our related resources.

Related:  5 Creative Presentation Ideas

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Highlight text

Highlight text and use your mouse as a laser pointer – two good ways to draw your audience’s attention to something on a slide. Watch this video to learn more.

Highlight your text

The typical method for highlighting text with color is not available in PowerPoint 2013. However, there is another great way to accomplish this using the Glow text effect.

Select the text on the slide.

Under DRAWING TOOLS , click the FORMAT tab.

Click Text Effects > Glow , and choose a Glow Variation .

To increase the glow, click Text Effects > Glow > Glow Options , and increase the number in the Size box in the Format Shape pane on the right.

Turn your mouse into a laser pointer

Zoom in to part of a slide in Slide Show view

In a slide show, sometimes, you want to highlight or point to a word or paragraph for emphasis.

For example, here, we have highlighted our company’s mission statement with a yellow glow.

Another thing you might do to call out text is turn the mouse pointer into a laser pointer and underscore important points as you speak.

Let’s look at how to use both methods for text, starting with a glow color.

Unlike in Word, in PowerPoint, there is no Text Highlight Color button. Instead, you highlight the text by adding a glow color.

Here is the text that we want to highlight. To add the glow color, first I’ll select the text by dragging with the mouse.

When I select the text, the DRAWING TOOLS FORMAT tab appears. I’ll click it.

The FORMAT tab has a group called WordArt Styles for formatting text with colors, glows, and other effects.

Look for Text Effects here, and click it.

The effect we want is Glow . When I point to it, a gallery of glow effects appears.

And when I point to an effect, it previews on the text.

For the strongest yellow glow, I’ll choose this one, called Gold, 18 pt. glow .

The text now has a yellow glow as a highlight.

I can increase the glow, if I want. I’ll select the text again, click Text Effects , point to Glow , and click Glow Options .

Next to Size , I’ll click the up arrow and increase the glow to 50 points.

The increased glow creates a more blended highlight, and the glow is easier to see.

We are finished with the Format Shape pane, so I’ll click the X to close it.

And now, let’s click Slide Show to see the glow highlight in that view.

Now, to use the laser pointer to call out the text while you present it, press and hold Ctrl and also press and hold the left mouse button. That activates the Laser Pointer .

As I mention each company value, such as 'Medicine for all', I can emphasize it with the pointer.

When I let up the mouse button, the mouse pointer returns.

But, the laser pointer reappears when I press and hold the mouse button, as long as I press Ctrl.

Up next: Change the font style for a presentation .

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How to Use Emphasis Animation to Highlight Text in PowerPoint

Highlight Text on a PowerPoint Slide Using Emphasis Animation Effects

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated March 12, 2021

Applies to: Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® 2013, 2016, 2019 and 365 (Windows)

If you want to focus attention on a key point on a PowerPoint slide, you may want to highlight text. One way to do this is to use emphasis animation effects. You can use this type of animation to change the color of text, apply a fill to the shape containing the text or even have the text grow or shrink. Many of the emphasis effects change colors but keep in mind that some audience members may not be able to see specific colors so it's a good idea to combine color emphasis with some other text effect like bold.

Recommended article: 10 Ways to Compress PowerPoint Presentations to Reduce File Size

Do you want to learn more about PowerPoint?  Check out our virtual classroom or live classroom  PowerPoint courses >

Applying an emphasis animation to highlight text

You can apply emphasis animations to text boxes or placeholders in PowerPoint. If you want to highlight text, common emphasis animations are Font Color or Brush Color. Emphasis animations are enabled only for the type of object you select. For example, you can only apply Font Color to a text object.

To apply an emphasis animation to a text box or placeholder

• Click in the text box or placeholder you want to animate.
• Click the Animations tab in the Ribbon.
• In the Animations group, click the More down arrow on the bottom right of the Animations gallery.
• Click an emphasis animation in the Emphasis group.
• If you would like to select an emphasis effect that does not appear in the Emphasis group, click More Emphasis Effects at the bottom of the gallery. A dialog box appears.
• Click the emphasis effect you want to apply.

You can also apply an emphasis animation by clicking Add Animation on the Animations tab in the Advanced Animation group.

The Change Emphasis Effect dialog box includes several other emphasis animations (some are only available in specific versions and for certain types of objects):

The most common animations that will change the color of text are:

• Brush Color
• Complementary Color
• Complementary Color 2

If you use Object Color, the color of the object or shape containing the text will change. If you use Line Color, the color of the line around the object or shape containing the text will change. You can also use Underline to apply an underline animation effect.

Previewing animation effects

After you add an animation effect, you can click the Preview or Play button on the Animations tab in the Ribbon to preview it. You can also preview animations by running a slide show (click the Slide Show button on the bottom right of your screen). By default, animations are set to play on click.

Setting Effect Options

You can also set different Effect Options for emphasis animations. Effect Options change depending on the animation effect you selected. For example, if you selected the Font Color emphasis effect, options would include different colors.

To set an effect option for an emphasis animation effect for a text object:

• Click in the text box or placeholder you want to animate. You can also click its edge. We'll assume here that there is one animation applied to the object.
• Click Effect Options. A drop-down menu appears.
• Click an option.

The following Effect Options appear for the Font Color emphasis animation:

Controlling the way an animation starts

Although animations are set by default to start on click, you can start them in other ways.

To control the way a text animation starts:

• In the Animations group, select an option from the Start drop-down menu in the Timing group. You can select On Click, With Previous or After Previous. With Previous or After Previous will run based on a previous animation.

Note the Start setting is set by default to On Click:

Setting the speed or duration of an animation

When you apply an animation, a duration or speed is automatically set for the animation (in seconds). The default duration is different for each animation effect. The initial duration is often fast and you may want to increase the duration to slow it down.

To set a speed or duration of a text animation:

• In the Animations group, enter a time for the animation in Duration area inf the Timing group. You can click the up and down arrows to change the duration or type a duration.

Note the Duration in the example below:

Removing an animation

To remove animations from one or more objects on a slide:

• Select an object. For text objects, click the edge of the text box or placeholder or click in it.
• Shift-click any other objects with animations you want to remove.
• In the Animations group, click None in the Animations gallery.

Emphasis animations are one way to highlight text in PowerPoint. Check out the article How to Highlight Text in PowerPoint (5 Ways) for other strategies for highlighting text.

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More resources

How to Remove All Animation in PowerPoint Presentations

How to Use Morph in PowerPoint to Design Engaging Presentations

How to Insert a Video in PowerPoint (From a File on Your PC or Shared Drive)

How to Add Animation in PowerPoint (Animate Images, Text and Other Objects)

How to Make an Object Appear and Disappear in PowerPoint Using Animations

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Highlight Text in PowerPoint Using Word

• Enter the text you want to highlight in Word or copy-paste it from the PowerPoint presentation. Select the text and under the Home tab, go to Text Highlight Color and select a color. The text will be highlighted in the color you chose.

• Articles of PPT

How to Highlight Text in PowerPoint (A Comprehensive Guide)

In a world where information overload is the norm, highlighting text in your PowerPoint presentation can be a game-changer. It helps your audience focus on key points and reinforces your message. In this guide, we'll explore various techniques to make your text stand out effectively.

Part 1: Where is the Text Highlight Color Button in PowerPoint?

The Text Highlight Color button is located on the Home tab of the PowerPoint ribbon. To find it, follow these steps:

Step 1: Click the Home tab on the ribbon.

Step 2: Locate the Font group on the right side of the ribbon.

Step 3: Click the arrow next to the Text Highlight Color button.

A drop-down menu will appear with a variety of highlight colors to choose from. Simply click on the desired color to apply it to the selected text.

Alternative methods for highlighting text in PowerPoint:

Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + H to open the Text Highlight Color drop-down menu.

Click the Review tab on the ribbon and then click the Text Highlighter tool in the Comments group.

Use the Format Shape pane to apply a highlight color to a text box.

Part 2: How to highlight one piece of text in PowerPoint

Highlighting specific text in PowerPoint can be a powerful way to draw attention to key information. Follow these steps accompanied by images for a clear guide:

Step 1: Select the Text

Begin by opening your PowerPoint presentation and navigating to the slide containing the text you want to highlight. Click and drag to select the specific text.

Step 2: Access the Font Color Options

Look for the "Font Color" icon in the toolbar, usually represented as a small paint bucket. Click on it to open the color options.

Step 3: Choose the Highlighter Tool

Within the color options, locate the highlighter tool, often represented by a marker icon. Click on it to activate the highlighter.

Step 4: Select a Highlight Color

From the color palette, choose the highlight color you want to use.

Step 5: Apply the Highlight

Click on the selected text to apply the chosen highlight color.

These steps will allow you to highlight a single piece of text effectively in PowerPoint.

Additional tips:

To remove highlighting from text, simply select the highlighted text and click the Text Highlight Color button again.

To highlight multiple pieces of non-contiguous text, hold down the Ctrl key while selecting each piece of text.

You can also use the Format Painter tool to copy highlighting from one piece of text to another. To do this, click the Format Painter tool on the Home tab, and then click the piece of text with the highlighting you want to copy. Next, click the piece of text you want to apply the highlighting to

Part 3: How to highlight multiple pieces of non-contiguous text  in PowerPoint

In certain situations, you might want to highlight multiple separate sections of text in a PowerPoint presentation. Follow these steps accompanied by images for a clear guide:

Step 1: Select the First Piece of Text

Begin by opening your PowerPoint presentation and navigating to the slide containing the text you want to highlight. Click and drag to select the first section of text.

Step 2: Hold Down the Ctrl Key

While holding down the Ctrl key (Command key on Mac), click on the other sections of text you want to highlight. This allows you to select multiple non-contiguous pieces of text.

Step 3: Access the Font Color Options

Step 4: Choose the Highlighter Tool

Step 5: Select a Highlight Color

Step 6: Apply the Highlight

Click on any of the selected text sections to apply the chosen highlight color. All the selected text will be highlighted simultaneously.

These steps will allow you to highlight multiple non-contiguous pieces of text effectively in PowerPoint.

Part 4: Other ways to highlight text in PowerPoint

In addition to the conventional methods, there are alternative approaches to highlight text in PowerPoint. Let's explore three effective techniques:

Method 1:Draw a shape 

Drawing shapes around text is an innovative way to draw attention. Here's how you can do it:

Step 1: Insert a Shape

Navigate to the "Insert" tab and select the shape you want to use. Draw it around the text you wish to highlight.

Step 2: Format the Shape

Right-click on the shape, choose "Format Shape," and then customize the fill color to your desired highlight shade.

Step 3: Adjust Transparency (Optional)

You can adjust the transparency of the shape to ensure the text is still readable.

Method 2 :Apply a glow effect to text

Adding a glow effect to text can create a visually striking highlight. Here's how to do it:

Highlight the text you want to emphasize.

Step 2: Apply the Glow Effect

Navigate to the "Format Text Effects" panel, go to "Glow & Soft Edges," and customize the glow settings to your preference.

Method 3 :using the Highlighter tool

PowerPoint offers a built-in highlighter tool that functions similarly to a physical highlighter pen. Here's how to use it:

Step 1: Activate the Highlighter Tool

Locate the highlighter tool in the toolbar and click on it to activate.

Step 2: Highlight the Text

Click and drag the highlighter tool over the text you want to emphasize.

Comparison of methods

Recommendations

Employ the Draw a Shape technique to craft a personalized highlight that commands attention on your slide, setting it apart from the rest.

Opt for the Apply a Glow Effect approach to fashion a gentle highlight that allows underlying text to remain visible without obstruction.

Leverage the Highlighter Tool for swift and efficient highlighting of extensive text sections.

Part 5: How to Remove Text Highlight in PowerPoint?

In this section, we'll delve into the process of removing text highlight in PowerPoint. While highlighting text can be a valuable tool for emphasis, there are instances where you might want to revert to the original format. Whether it's for refining your presentation or making adjustments, follow these steps to efficiently remove text highlights. Let's get started.

Step 1 : Open Your PowerPoint Presentation

Launch PowerPoint and open the presentation containing the highlighted text.

Step 2 : Select the Highlighted Text

Locate the text that has been highlighted.

Step 3: Go to the "Font Color" Option

In the PowerPoint ribbon, find the "Font Color" option. It usually looks like a small paint bucket or a letter "A" with a color palette.

Step 4: Choose the Same Color as Your Slide Background

Select the same color as your slide background. This will effectively remove the highlight.

Step 5: Verify the Removal

Ensure that the highlight has been successfully removed.

Following these steps will allow you to efficiently remove text highlights from your PowerPoint presentation.

Part 6 Best Alternative to PowerPoint – WPS Presentation

WPS Office is a robust alternative to Microsoft Office, offering a suite of powerful applications including WPS Presentation, which serves as a compelling alternative to PowerPoint. Here's how you can make the most of it:

How to Download WPS Office

Step 1 : Visit the WPS Office website at https://www.wps.com/ .

Step 2: Click the Download button on the homepage.

Step 3: Select the Mac version of WPS Office.

Step 4: Once the download is complete, open the installer file.

Step 5: Follow the on-screen instructions to install WPS Office.

Using WPS Presentation to Highlight Text

Step 1: Open the WPS Presentation application.

Step 2: Select the text you want to highlight.

Step 3: Click the Text Highlight Color button on the Home tab.

Step 4: Choose a color from the drop-down menu.

Benefits of Using WPS Office

Compatibility with Mac:  WPS Office is fully compatible with the Mac system, making it a great option for Mac users who are looking for a PowerPoint alternative.

Free to use:  WPS Office is completely free to use, unlike PowerPoint which requires a subscription.

Wide range of features:  WPS Office offers a wide range of features that are similar to PowerPoint, such as the ability to create and edit presentations, add slides, insert images and videos, and apply formatting.

Unique features:  WPS Office also offers a number of unique features that are not found in PowerPoint, such as the ability to convert PDFs to presentations, create mind maps, and translate presentations into multiple languages.

Cloud integration:  WPS Office is integrated with the WPS Cloud, which allows you to access your presentations from any device.

WPS Presentation is a great alternative to PowerPoint for Mac users. It is free to use, offers a wide range of features, and is compatible with the Mac system. If you are looking for a powerful and affordable presentation software, WPS Presentation is a great option.

Q1:Why is there no highlight text button in My PowerPoint?

If you can't find the highlight text button in your PowerPoint, it might be because of the version you're using or the settings. You can try customizing your toolbar or using alternative methods like shapes, glow effects, or the highlighter tool. Make sure your PowerPoint is up to date for the latest features.

Q2:What is the highlight text in PowerPoint shortcut? 

While you're editing your PowerPoint slide, there isn't a direct shortcut key to highlight text with a specific color. However, you can press "Ctrl+I" to enable the highlight tool while you're in slideshow mode. This can be quite handy during a presentation or class.

Q3:How to create a video in PowerPoint?

Creating a video in PowerPoint can be an effective way to convey your message. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Insert Media: Click on the "Insert" tab, then select "Video" and choose the video file you want to insert.

Step 2: Set Playback Options: In the "Video Tools" tab, you can set options like start and end times, volume, and playback options.

Step 3: Add Animations or Transitions (Optional): You can add animations or transitions to your video to enhance its visual appeal.

Step 4: Export as Video: Once you're satisfied with the video, go to "File," then "Export," and choose "Create a Video." Select your preferred settings and click "Save."

In this comprehensive guide, we've covered various techniques for effectively highlighting text in PowerPoint presentations. Whether using built-in tools or alternative methods, you now have the expertise to make your content stand out. Additionally, we've highlighted the advantages of using WPS Office as a powerful alternative to PowerPoint. Its features and compatibility, especially with Mac systems, make it a compelling choice for creating impactful presentations.

• 1. How to Highlight Text in Pages on Mac, iPhone and iPad?
• 2. How to Highlight Text and Cells in Google Sheets? (3 Easy Methods)
• 3. How to Fix Highlight Text not Working in Microsoft Word? (Guide with Images)
• 4. How to Highlight Text in Adobe Acrobat - A Comprehensive Guide
• 5. How to Highlight Text in Google Docs on Desktop and Mobile?
• 6. How to Highlight Text and Cells in Excel Using WPS Office? (6 Common Methods)

15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.

How to Format Text in PowerPoint? [A Complete Tutorial!]

By: Author Shrot Katewa

When you have to create presentations using PowerPoint, knowing how to format text in PowerPoint the correct way can actually save you a ton of time! It is one of the most important tasks that we invariably need to perform on any presentation i.e. formatting text in PowerPoint!

To format the text in PowerPoint, select the text first. Then, on the home tab, you can use the various formatting options such as Font Type, Font Size, Font Styles, Line Spacing, Font Color, Text Highlight, etc.

Formatting text correctly in PowerPoint can add emphasis and grab the attention of the audience where needed. This can not only make your presentation look good, but also help you deliver it effectively!

So, in this article, we shall take a deep dive and understand all the nuances of formatting the text correctly in PowerPoint. I shall try my best to provide information about everything you need to know when it comes to editing and formatting the text!

So, let’s get started!

A Quick Note Before We Begin – if you want to make jaw-dropping presentations, I would recommend using one of these Presentation Designs . The best part is – it is only $16.5 a month, but you get to download and use as many presentation designs as you like! I personally use it from time-to-time, and it makes my task of making beautiful presentations really quick and easy!

1. How to Add Text to a Slide in PowerPoint? 

You probably may already know this, but let’s just start with the basics to make sure we are all on the same page!

You can add text to the slide in PowerPoint using a text box. Click on the “Insert” tab. Then, select the “Text Box” option. Next, click and drag on any part of your slide to add the text box. Finally, start typing to add text as soon as you have created the text box in PowerPoint.

Here’s a step by step process described in detail:

Step 1:  Click on the “Insert” tab

The first step to adding text to a slide in PowerPoint is to click on the “Insert” tab which is the third tab in the ribbon and located at the top left of the PowerPoint window.

Step 2: Select the “Text Box” option

Click on the “Text Box” option which in on the right side of the “Insert” tab in the “Text” section. After clicking on the “Text Box” option, your cursor will change on the slide.

Now to add the text box to the slide, simply click and drag your cursor to draw the text box with your preferred size.

Step 3: Add text to your presentation

To add text, you can directly start typing as soon as you create the text box. Click outside the box when you are done, and your text will be added to the slide.

If you want to edit the text again, then click inside the text box anywhere on the text. Alternatively, you can select the text box and right-click on it, and from the menu, click on “Edit Text”.

In case you are new to PowerPoint and want to know more about the nuances of adding text such as adding text over an image, shape, or even a video, check my other article on how to add text in PowerPoint that goes in-depth on this topic.

2. How to Change the Font of the Text? 

There are at least two methods you should know on how to change the font of your text in PowerPoint. However, make sure to check out our detailed guide on how to change fonts in PowerPoint where I’ve added even more relevant information explained in a step-by-step manner.

Nevertheless, the two methods are described below –

Method 1 – Using the “Home” Ribbon

The first method is by using the “Home” tab in PowerPoint . Here’s the detailed process explained –

Step 1: Select the Text

The first step is to select the text inside the text box for which you want to change the font. If you want to change the font of all the text inside the text box, you can also click on the text box itself!

Step 2: Change the Font

The next step is simply to change the font! To do that, make sure the “ Home ” ribbon is selected. (as shown in the image above). Then, under the “ Fonts ” section, click on the “ Font ” dropdown and choose the font as per your desire.

Method 2 – Using the Right-Click Option

The whole process is described through three simple steps below:  

Step 1: Select the text

The first step is to select the text located in text boxes. You can do that by double-clicking on a word in the “Text box” or dragging your cursor over the texts while holding the “left mouse button”

Step 2: “Right-click” on your selected text.

“Right-click ” on the text which you have selected. This will open a drop-down menu. The drop-down menu has the “Font” section of the “Home” tab which you can use to edit the font style, color, and size.

Step 3: Click on the “Font” drop-down menu.

Click on the “Font” option to open its drop-down menu. The drop-down menu has a variety of fonts that will appear in the middle of the screen.

Click on your preferred font style and it will change accordingly.

3. How to Change Font Size of Text in PowerPoint? 

The steps of changing the font size are very similar to that of changing the font of the text. The process is described in simple steps below:

Step 1: Select the text.

Select the text in which you want to increase or decrease the size of the font and then “Right-click” on it. A drop-down menu with the “Font” section of the “Home” tab will appear.

Step 2: Click on the “Font size” option.

Right beside the current font style, a number is showing the size of the font, that is the “Font size” option.

To change the size of the text, click on the “Font size” dropdown menu and different numbers will show up. Click on the size you want, and the font size will be changed immediately.

You can also type in the exact font size that you want if it is not present in the dropdown list.

4. How to Add Styles to Text in PowerPoint?

You can also take advantage of the Font Styles in PowerPoint to emphasize the text! There are primarily 4 text styles available in PowerPoint. These are –

• Strikethrough

There are also superscript and subscript text options, which we shall cover in detail later in this article.

To change the font style to bold, italics, underline, or strikethrough in your slide, first you have to select the texts you want to change the style of and then follow the instructions below:

How to Bold the Text in PowerPoint?

At first, select the text you want to bold. The “Home” tab has a “Font” section. On the bottom left of the “Font” section, there is a “B” button which will turn your text to a “Bold” style text. Click on the “B” button and your text will turn bold.

Alternatively, you can also use the shortcut i.e. “Ctrl + B” buttons on your keyboard after selecting the text to get the job done faster.

How to Make the Text Italics in PowerPoint?

Click on the button that looks like an “ I” which is the “Italic” style font option after selecting the text. It is located on the right side of “Bold” option. The selected text will be changed to an “ Italic ” style font immediately.

Alternatively, you can also use the keyboard shortcut for italicizing the text in PowerPoint. Just press the “Ctrl + I” buttons on your keyboard after selecting the text to get the job done.

How to Underline Text in PowerPoint?

Underlining texts can be done by selecting the text and clicking on the button that looks like a “ U ” . This is the “underline” option in the “Font” section. The “ U ” button is right beside the “ I” button in the Home tab.

Alternatively, you can also use the keyboard shortcut to underline text by pressing the “Ctrl + U” buttons on your keyboard after selecting the text.

How to Strikethrough Text in PowerPoint?

The strikethrough text is used when you want to cross out the text.

The “Strikethrough” button is beside the “Underline” button in the “Font” section and the icon has a line going through lower case “ ab ” .

After selecting the text, click on the “Strikethrough” option and it will cross out the text.

5. How to Highlight the Text in PowerPoint?

You can use the “Text Highlight Color” button to highlight the text in PowerPoint. However, this button is only available for the Office 365 version of PowerPoint .

If you are using an older version of PowerPoint, check out my other article on how to highlight text in PowerPoint . It provides you with multiple other ways to make your text stand out on a slide in PowerPoint.

That said, here’s a step-by-step process on how to highlight text in PowerPoint using the text highlight color option!

Step 1: Select the Text and Click the “Text Highlight Color” button

At first, you have to click on the text you want to highlight and select it. Then, you have to click the “Text Highlight Colour” button.

This button has a pen in the icon with a yellow line underneath it and it is located at the “Font” section of the “Home” tab. Doing so will instantly highlight your text.

If you want to highlight text across multiple text boxes, you can also first click on the “Text Highlight Colour” button on the “Home” tab. This will turn the cursor into a pen from the “Arrow” icon.

Now, simply click on the text box for the text you want to highlight. The text will be highlighted instantly.

6. How to Change Font Color in PowerPoint?

There are multiple ways in which you can change the color of your font in PowerPoint. I’ve listed the easiest method to change the font color below.

If you want to know ninja tips on how to change the font color for all text in PowerPoint, check out my other article. (by clicking on the link)

Follow the step-by-step guide to change your font color in PowerPoint:

Step 1: Click on the “Font Color” drop-down menu button

To change the color of your text, the first step is to select the text using your cursor. Then click on the “dropdown” button beside the “Font Color” button.

This button is located at the right of the “Font” section in your “Home” tab. It is an icon with a capitalized “A” and a red underline.

Step 2: Choose new font color

When you click on the dropdown menu, a color palette appears. Hover your cursor to the color you want, and you will see the text changing its color. Now, click to alter the text font color.

7. How to Clear Text Formatting in PowerPoint? 

Sometimes, you don’t particularly like the changes that you’ve made to the text and perhaps you want to start over from scratch. This is when the clear text formatting option in PowerPoint comes in handy!

To clear the text formatting in your PowerPoint presentation, select the text you want to remove the formatting from and click on the icon with the red eraser called the “Clear All Formatting” button.

This icon is located in the “Font” section of the “Home” tab and clicking it will erase all formats such as bold, italics, underline, highlight, etc. from the text. The text will then revert to the default text of the theme.

If you want to learn how to clear formatting in PowerPoint on all slides, make sure you click on the link and check out the other article where I have gone into detail on this topic and provided tips on how to do so quickly!

8. How to Add Text Outline in PowerPoint? 

You can outline text in PowerPoint to create emphasis on certain text that you want the audience to look at.

Here’s how you can outline text in PowerPoint –

Step 1: “Right-click” on the text and select “Format Text Effects”

Select the text you want to outline and “Right-click” on it. A drop-down menu will appear with different options. Click on the “Format Text Effects” option from the menu.

Step 2: Click on the “Text Fill & Outline” button

After you click on the “Format Text Effects” option, the “Format Shape” sidebar will pop up on the right of the slide.

It usually automatically displays the “Texts Effects” option which is the icon in the middle that looks like an “A” . In case it doesn’t, click on “ Text Options ” first.

Click on the “A” icon beside it and then click on the “Text Outline” option. A menu will appear with the options like, “No line” , “Solid line” , and “Gradient line” .

Step 3: Select your desired Text Outline

Choose the text outline you want to apply to the slide text. Gradient line will create a transparent border around your text, and a solid line will fill up your text border.

Choose a color as per preference to add the outline to text in PowerPoint.

9. Using WordArt in PowerPoint 

I’ve written a detailed article on how to use WordArt in PowerPoint along with steps to customize your WordArt. So, make sure you click on the link and check out that article to learn more about WordArt. But, here’s a quick highlight on using WordArt –

To use WordArt in your PowerPoint presentation, you have to go to the “WordArt” option in the “Insert” tab. The whole process is described in easy steps below:

Step 1: Go to the “Insert” tab

The third tab from the right in the ribbon is the “ Insert” tab. Click on the “ Insert” tab to access the “ WordArt” option.

Step 2: Click on the “WordArt” button

Now, on the “Text” section of the “Insert” tab is a leaning “A” icon which is the “WordArt” button. Click on that button to access WordArt.

Step 3: Choose your WordArt style

Different styles of WordArt appear in a drop-down menu after you click on the “WordArt” button. Now select your preferred WordArt style to place it on the slide.

Step 4: Insert the WordArt into your presentation.

A “Text box” with the chosen style will be displayed in the middle of the slide. Select the “Your text here” texts and erase it.

Now, you can write any text with WordArt you want and then place it in your preferred location.

10. How to Change Text Direction in PowerPoint? 

The method to change the text direction in PowerPoint is similar to that of changing the text outline in that it needs the user to open the format settings.

Follow the steps mentioned below to change the direction of the text in PowerPoint –

Step 1: Click on the “Format Shape” button

The first step to changing text direction is to select the text you want to change and “ Right-clicking” on it. A drop-down menu with many options will be displayed on the screen. Click on the “Format Shape” option which is located right below the “Formatting Text Effects” button.

Step 2: Click on the “Size and Properties” option

A sidebar with the title “Format Shape” will appear on the right of the screen. Click the square icon on the right side called the “Size & Properties” option.

Step 3: Click on the “Text Direction” dropdown menu

Below the “Text Box” button is the “Text Direction” option.

Every text is horizontal by default so if you want to change it, you will have to click on the arrow-mark besides the “Horizontal” option to open a dropdown menu. This will show you different text direction options. Click on the direction you want your text to move in.

You can also rotate text in PowerPoint. There are actually multiple different ways in which you can rotate the text Check out our detailed guide on how to rotate text in PowerPoint !

11. How to Cut, Copy, Paste and Duplicate Text in PowerPoint?

Copy and paste in PowerPoint are perhaps one of the most important functions in PowerPoint! Furthermore, knowing how to cut and duplicate can also help you move your text around quickly.

I’ve written a detailed guide on how to copy and paste in PowerPoint with visual references. So, make sure you check that article out for the details. For brevity, I’m just sharing the basics here –

• How to Copy Text in PowerPoint – Copying text allows you to create a photocopy of the selected text. To copy the text in PowerPoint, select the text. Then, use the keyboard shortcut by pressing the “Ctrl + C” keys simultaneously. Alternatively, “Right-click” on the text that you want to copy and press the “Copy” button from the dropdown menu.
• How to Cut Text in PowerPoint – The “Cut” function allows you to remove a text and then place it again in a different location. It is almost the same as the copy function but copying creates a photocopy while the cut function deletes the object from its original location and places it on the location where you paste it. The keyboard shortcut to cut text in PowerPoint is “Ctrl + X” . Or alternatively, “Right-click” on the object that you want to cut and hit the “Cut” button from the drop-down menu.
• Paste Text in PowerPoint – The “Paste” function allows you to place the text to a preferred location that has been copied or cut. Hence, it is done after the cut or copy function. You need to paste the text after copying or cutting it to finish the process. The keyboard shortcut of pasting text is “Ctrl + V” . Or alternatively, “Right-click” on the location that you want to paste the object and hit the “Paste” button from the dropdown menu.
• Duplicate Text in PowerPoint – Duplicating texts is a combination of the copy and paste function. After selecting your texts, if you press “Ctrl + D” then it creates a duplicate of the original. It is, however, not an alternative to the cut function. But, it can be used instead of copy and paste. One drawback, though, of this function is that it can’t duplicate elements across slides. For that, you will need to use copy and paste functions.

12. Using Format Painter to Apply Text Formatting 

Format painter is a tool that allows the user to easily copy the font style, size, and color of a certain text and apply it to another text.

Actually, the format painter has the capability to do much more than just copying the formatting of the text! It can be used to apply the formatting of shapes, text boxes, images, etc. It is a super helpful tool!

In fact, I covered the use of format painter in PowerPoint in a detailed manner in another article. Make sure you check out that article too as it will save you a ton of time while editing your presentation!

Meanwhile, I’ve covered the basics of using the format painter below –

Step 1: Select the text and go to the “Format Painter” option

At first, you have to select the text you like the font of. This should not be the text you want to paint over. Now below the “Home” tab, and in the “Clipboard” section, there is a paintbrush icon called the “Format Painter” button. Click on it.

Step 2: Format paint the text.

Your cursor will change into a paintbrush after you click on the “Format painter” button. Now, move the cursor to the text you want to apply the formatting on and click it. It will change to the font of your choice.

This is a single-use format painting because your cursor will change back to normal after one use.

Step 3: Format painting multiple words at a time (optional)

If you want to change the font of multiple texts using the “Format Painter” option, then instead of clicking the icon once, “Double click” on the “Format painter” button.

This time, the cursor will not change back and allow you to format the font of several texts.

Once you are done using the format painter, simply click on the icon again or press the “Esc” key on the keyboard.

13. How to Align Text in PowerPoint?

In this section, I will be describing the different alignments options for text in PowerPoint. I’ve written a detailed article on how to align in PowerPoint where I also talk about aligning objects and shapes with respect to each other and provide tips to save time! So, make sure you check out that article for further details.

Meanwhile, below are step-by-step guides to align text in PowerPoint horizontally or vertically.

Horizontal Align – left, right, centre, justify

The horizontal alignment allows the text to be aligned in the text box on a horizontal axis.

The process of aligning texts in different horizontal styles is described in the simple steps given below:

To change the alignment of text, the first step is to select all the texts inside a “Text box” using your cursor.

Step 2: Choose your desired horizontal alignment

There are four icons made up of lines in the “Paragraph” section of the “Home” tab. From the left, they are “Align Left” , “Centre” , “Align Right” , and “Justify” .

Click on your preferred horizontal alignment to change the text position inside the text box.

Vertical align – Top, bottom, middle

The vertical text alignment will allow you to align the text in the box in a vertical axis with respect to the text box.

The process of aligning texts in different vertical styles is described in the following steps:

The first step is to simply select the text that you want to change the vertical alignment of.

Step 2: Change the Vertical Alignment

Next, simply go to the “ Home ” ribbon. Then, click on the “Align” Tool as indicated in the image above. From the dropdown, choose the vertical alignment options from “ Top “, “ Middle “, or “ Bottom “.

14. How to Add Superscript and Subscript to Text in PowerPoint?

Using superscript or subscript text style can be especially helpful when creating a presentation for students or when adding an equation.

I wrote a detailed post explaining the steps to superscript or subscript text in PowerPoint (with images). Make sure you check out that article for full details. I’ll share the brief steps below –

• To subscript text in PowerPoint, first, select the text. Then, click on the “ home ” tab, and click on the “ arrow ” button at the bottom right corner under the “ Fonts ” section of the Home ribbon.
• This will open a “ Fonts ” window dialog box. In the window select the “Subscript” text option. Make sure that the box is checked.
• You can also add the “Superscript” using the same process. Just make sure that the box before the superscript text is checked.

15. How to Add Bullet Points or Numbering to Text in PowerPoint?

Here’s how you can add bullet points or numbered list to your text in PowerPoint –

Step 1 – Select the Text

To add bullet points or numbering to text in your PowerPoint presentation, first, you have to select the text or navigate the blinking cursor in the place where you want the bullet point or numbering to be

Step 2 – Add Bullets from the “Home” Ribbon

Next, click on the “ Home ” tab. From the “ Paragraph ” section on the home tab, you can choose to add either bullets or numbering in PowerPoint.

You can choose to customize the bullet points if you don’t like the default design. Alternatively, you can also change the bullet style in PowerPoint to create your own design style.

16. How to Add Indent to Text in PowerPoint?

You can also indent text in PowerPoint – meaning you can add some space before the text starts in a new paragraph or a new line. (And no, you don’t need to keep pressing the space bar for that!)

Add or Increase Indent in PowerPoint

The first step is to move your cursor to the beginning of the paragraph you want to add indent to. It is important to note that the sentence that you want to indent should not be in the middle of the paragraph. Alternatively, you can bring the cursor to the start of a sentence and press “Enter” .

Now, click the icon with lines and an arrow pointing towards the right. This is called the “Increase Indent” button and is used to add or increase an indent level. You can find it in the “Paragraph” section of the “Home” tab. (check the image above for reference)

How to Decrease Indent in PowerPoint? 

To decrease indent in a paragraph text, click on the button called “Decrease List Level.” The icon will have lines and a left-pointing arrow. It is to the left of the “Increase List Level” icon. Clicking it once will decrease one indent level.

17. Choosing Line Spacing of Text in PowerPoint

Line spacing can help increase or decrease the space between the line of text. You can add a line spacing between lines or between paragraphs. This explanation perhaps requires a detailed article.

[Edit – I’ve written a detailed article on Line Spacing in PowerPoint that highlights the nuances and explains everything in a beginner-friendly manner. Make sure you check it out by click on the hyperlink]

Nevertheless, the basic steps to choosing the line spacing in PowerPoint is described below:

If you want to modify the line space in a single paragraph, at first you have to select the paragraph you want to change the line spacing of using your cursor.

Step 2: Click on the “Line Spacing” button.

You can find the “ Line Spacing ” button in the “Paragraph” section of the “Home” tab (as showcased in the image above).

After selecting the text, click on the “Line spacing” button to display a drop-down menu. Choose your preferred line spacing and the paragraph will change accordingly.

Step 3: Click on the “Line Spacing Options” button for Advanced Options

If you want more options to choose from, click on the “Line Spacing Options” button from the drop-down menu. It will open a dialogue box in the middle of the slide. Here, if you want to increase the space above your paragraph, you have to increase the “Before” option.

Or, if you want space after a paragraph, increase the “After” option. These work vice-versa. To change the space between lines, click on the dropdown menu button next to the “Line Spacing” option.

18. How to Add Text in Columns in PowerPoint?

The process of adding text in columns in your PowerPoint presentation is described in 2 easy steps below:

Step 1: Select the text or the text box

At first, select the text where you want to add the columns.

Step 2: Click on the “Add Column” button

Click on the “ Home Tab “. Then, under the “ Paragraph ” section, click on the “ Add or Remove Column ” button (check out the image above for references). You can usually locate it next to the indent or line spacing buttons. You can also hover over the button and wait for the name of the function to pop-up if you are unsure.

Once the button is clicked, a dropdown menu will appear. From the dropdown, choose the number of columns you would like to add.

You will notice that the columns have been added to the text immediately!

More PowerPoint Related Topics

• How to Use a Presentation Clicker to Deliver Presentations Effectively!
• How to Crop a Picture in PowerPoint? [Complete Step-by-Step Tutorial!]
• How to Give a Presentation on Zoom? A Helpful Resource!
• How to Convert a PowerPoint to PDF? [A Simple Guide!]
• PowerPoint vs Google Slides: Which is Better? [ULTIMATE Test!]
• How to Change Bullet Style in PowerPoint? A Complete Guide

Credit to Nakaridore (on Freepik) for the Featured Image (further edited) of this Article

5 Ways to Highlight Text in a Microsoft PowerPoint Animation

Animations in PowerPoint allow you to bring your presentations to life. Using animations strategically to highlight key text and concepts can help reinforce your message and keep your audience engaged.

In this article, I’ll walk through 5 easy ways to highlight text in a PowerPoint animation using built-in features. Whether you want to draw attention to a specific word or phrase to make it stand out or animate bullet points one by one, these techniques will level up your next PowerPoint deck.

1. Animate Text By Letter

Animating text to appear letter by letter is an excellent way to place emphasis on an important word or phrase. Here are the steps:

• Select the text you want to animate in your PowerPoint slide.
• Go to the “Animations” tab and click on “Add Animation”.
• Choose “By Letter” from the dropdown menu.
• Customize the animation by changing the order letters appear, duration, and more in the “Effect Options” pane.

This animation draws the audience’s gaze to the text as it materializes on the slide. Use it sparingly for the biggest impact.

2. Animate Bullet Points One By One

For bullet point lists, animating each point to fly in individually can highlight key information step-by-step. Here’s how:

• Select the entire bullet point list and go to “Add Animation”.
• Choose “Entrance > More Effects > Fly In”.
• Open the “Effect Options” pane and select “By Paragraph”.
• Adjust the timing and sequence so points fly in one at a time.

This technique turns static bullets into a dynamic sequence, guiding your audience through key takeaways systematically.

3. Highlight Text With a Color Flash

Adding a subtle color flash animation energizes your text and makes it pop off the slide:

• Select the text and add the “Emphasis > Flash Once” animation.
• Open “Effect Options” and pick an eye-catching highlight color.
• Tweak the duration, trigger, or add multiple flashes.

The color flash draws the viewer’s eye to the text, even if only for a split second. Use it to highlight surprising stats or critical keywords.

4. Draw Attention With a Zoom Effect

The classic “zoom in” or “zoom out” animation immediately pulls focus towards your text:

• Choose your text and go to “Add Animation”.
• Select “Emphasis > Grow/Shrink”.
• Open the options and set the effect to rapidly scale up or down in size.
• Adjust size change and duration to create smooth zooming.

As the text suddenly balloons or shrinks before their eyes, all attention shifts to your message. This effect works well on thought-provoking quotes.

5. Use Motion Paths For Visual Movement

For maximum dynamism, set your text in motion along a custom path. Here’s how:

• Add the “Entrance > Custom Path” animation to your text.
• Select the effect and click on the drop-down next to “Path”.
• Choose a preset motion path or draw your own custom path.
• Set the speed along the path for smooth flowing movement.

Watching text glide across the slide draws interest and holds attention. This mesmerizing trick can highlight nearly any text.

Key Takeaways

Animating text strategically is critical for amplifying key messages and making them stick. By letter, bullet, color flash, zoom, and motion path effects represent five go-to techniques for highlighting text in your next presentation.

Use these animations judiciously according to the type of content and your goals. For example, fly in bullet points one by one to reinforce information step-by-step or make important figures stand out with a pulsing color flash.

About The Author

Vegaslide staff, related posts.

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SAP SuccessFactors First Half 2024 Release: Make Every Employee a Success Story

Success can take many forms. It’s achieving AI-driven results faster and smarter. It’s unlocking more meaningful and aspirational career development experiences. It’s empowering employees and managers through simple HR-related tasks in the flow of work, freeing up more productive time across the organization.

And for you and your business, you can tell all those success stories – and more – with the SAP SuccessFactors HCM suite and our first half 2024 release.

As your organization and employees begin to embrace AI, HR has the opportunity to drive new levels of employee productivity, engagement, and growth. SAP SuccessFactors HCM can give you everything you need – the global foundation, skills framework, people-first experiences, and purpose-built AI capabilities – to help take HR to the next level. With the SAP SuccessFactors first half 2024 release, we are delivering more than 250 innovative features and enhancements.

SAP Business AI

In 1H 2024, we are thrilled to introduce more than 25 new AI capabilities to enable better employee experiences and new levels of productivity.

Among these capabilities include the ability for applicants to provide skills during the application process. This can enable recruiters to see a skills compatibility for each applicant based on matching the applicant’s skills and the job requisition, helping improve applicant screening and time to hire. Furthermore, personalization in SAP SuccessFactors Opportunity Marketplace is enhanced with new AI-driven recommendation categories, “Ignite Your Role” and “Reach Your Aspirations.” These guided experiences can enable employees to proactively take steps to reach their development goals.

Generative AI continues to be embedded across the SAP SuccessFactors HCM suite, including new capabilities to help employees create ready-made performance and development goals and AI-assisted writing to help improve the quality, clarity, and conciseness of writing across a variety of areas within SAP SuccessFactors solutions.

Further, with this release, insights based on an employee’s compensation and job history are available to help support managers in having effective and well-informed compensation discussions. 

We have also added more than 15 new Joule capabilities in this release to help both managers and employees get work done in a conversational way, such as creating or changing a position, creating spot awards, clocking in and out, and viewing pay statements as well as time capabilities like requesting time off, checking leave balances, and syncing holidays to Outlook calendars while managers can review and approve time off. Further, employees can now clock in and out using Joule, Microsoft Teams, or the SAP SuccessFactors Mobile app.

SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central

We are excited to unveil two new people profile experiences – the profile preview and the spotlight view. The profile preview can provide a snapshot of key areas of the employee profile, including job, manager, location, and contact details, to quickly view and connect with others. Additionally, the spotlight view can showcase employee skills and competencies, mentoring and target roles, and other relevant personal and organizational information.

We are also introducing a new org chart experience with a refreshed look and feel. Available on desktop and mobile, users can explore their organizational structure with improved expand and collapse capabilities, which helps provide full accessibility to an employee’s profile preview, with an option to open the new spotlight view.

Customers can now automatically process new hires from SAP SuccessFactors Recruiting and SAP SuccessFactors Onboarding into SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central. This capability helps further reduce the time to hire, which is especially important with mass, seasonal, and high-volume hiring.

SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Global Benefits

With this release, we are pleased to introduce a new benefits enrollment experience for insurance, savings, and pension benefit types. Available on both desktop and mobile, the guided experience for benefits elections can give employees increased convenience with improved navigation and increased confidence with side-by-side plan comparisons and embedded instructional text. Additionally, employees can update dependent information and manage beneficiaries directly from the benefits enrollment process, which helps further streamline the enrollment experience.  

SAP SuccessFactors Time Tracking

We are thrilled to share the launch of a new time sheet experience that integrates the latest version of My Timesheet in SAP S/4HANA with SAP SuccessFactors. Employees can now record time for payroll, as well as against activities and cost objects, from a single time sheet across applications. This helps organizations leverage real-time connectivity between HR and finance operations to keep track of employee activity and labor costs and to pay employees accurately and on time.

Additionally, a new monthly calendar view for time sheets can give employees and managers a complete picture of recorded time over a month. Users can drill down into specific days and submit or approve time for pay periods beyond a week, such as biweekly or monthly.

For managers, a new time approval center helps simplify approvals with a centralized dashboard highlighting anomalies for swift resolution. Managers can monitor team working hours effectively, helping to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing.

SAP SuccessFactors Onboarding

With enhancements to the onboarding journey experience, new hires can now use the new Your Onboarding Checklist page to reference and complete all tasks – onboarding data collection, compliance tasks, additional onboarding tasks, and exploring the onboarding guide – from one place with a single view. Available for new hires, rehires, internal hires, and employees with global assignments, this improved experience can save time for onboarding participants while helping to ensure productivity from the start.

And that’s only a fraction of all the innovations we’re bringing to customers in 1H 2024. There’s much more in the release, including new and exciting updates in:

• Generative AI and Joule capabilities
• SAP SuccessFactors Opportunity Marketplace
• SAP SuccessFactors Compensation
• SAP SuccessFactors Succession & Development
• SAP SuccessFactors Incentive Management
• SAP SuccessFactors Work Zone

Read the SAP SuccessFactors first half 2024 release highlights brochure and watch the 1H 2024 release highlights video to find out more.

Bianka Woelke is group vice president of Application Product Management at SAP.

SAP SuccessFactors Strategy for Building Future-Ready Workforces

SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Grows to 6,000 Customers

SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll Natively Supports 50 Locales