How to Do Hidden Text
Hidden text in Microsoft Word allows you to mark specific content so that it doesn't display or print by default, providing a way to manage document visibility for different purposes.
What is Hidden Text?
Hidden text is a formatting attribute applied to selected characters or paragraphs within a document. When this attribute is active, the marked text becomes invisible in the document view and will not appear when the document is printed, unless specific display settings are enabled. It's a useful feature for adding internal notes, conditional content, or temporary information that you don't want to be part of the final output.
How to Create Hidden Text in Microsoft Word
Creating hidden text involves applying a specific font attribute to your desired content. This process is straightforward and can be easily toggled on or off.
Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these steps to hide text in your Word document:
- Select the Text: Highlight the specific words, sentences, or paragraphs you wish to hide.
- Open the Font Dialog Box:
- Go to the Home tab on the Word ribbon.
- In the Font group, click the small arrow in the bottom-right corner (this is the Font Dialog Box Launcher).
- Alternatively, you can right-click the selected text and choose "Font..." from the context menu.
- Apply the Hidden Attribute:
- In the Font dialog box, under the "Effects" section, locate and check the box next to Hidden.
- Click OK to apply the change.
Once applied, the selected text will disappear from your document view. It's really hard to see unless you're zooming in and have the "Show/Hide ¶" feature enabled, which will reveal it marked with a faint dotted underline.
Showing and Hiding Hidden Text
Even after applying the "Hidden" attribute, you can toggle the visibility of hidden text within Word.
Toggling Visibility with the Show/Hide Button
The quickest way to reveal or conceal all hidden text (along with other non-printing characters like spaces and paragraph marks) is using the Show/Hide ¶ button:
- Go to the Home tab.
- In the Paragraph group, click the Show/Hide ¶ button (it looks like a paragraph symbol).
- When this button is active, hidden text will appear with a dotted underline, making it visible for editing or review. When inactive, the hidden text will disappear again.
Permanent Display Settings
You can also adjust your Word options to control whether hidden text is always displayed on screen or printed:
- Go to File > Options.
- In the Word Options dialog box, click on Display in the left-hand pane.
- Under the "Always show these formatting marks on screen" section, check or uncheck Hidden text as needed.
- Under the "Printing options" section, check or uncheck Print hidden text to control its appearance on printed pages.
- Click OK.
Here's a quick reference for the display settings:
| Setting | Effect on Screen Display | Effect on Printed Output |
|---|---|---|
| Hidden text | Controls if hidden text is visible with dotted lines. | No direct effect on print; see "Print hidden text". |
| Print hidden text | No effect on screen; requires "Hidden text" to be visible to edit. | Controls if hidden text appears on the printed document. |
For more detailed information on managing text visibility in Word, refer to the Microsoft Support page on showing or hiding text.
Practical Applications of Hidden Text
Hidden text offers several practical uses in document management:
- Drafting and Review: Add comments or notes that are only visible to editors or during specific review stages.
- Conditional Printing: Prepare a single document that can be printed in multiple versions by hiding or showing specific sections (e.g., internal vs. external reports).
- Quiz Answers: Create study guides where questions are visible, but answers are hidden until revealed by the user.
- Mail Merge: In advanced scenarios, hidden text can influence mail merge results without appearing in the final merged documents.
Important Considerations
While useful, be mindful that hidden text is not a security feature. Anyone with access to the document can easily reveal it. Also, ensure you check your display and print settings before finalizing documents to prevent unintended disclosure or omission of content.
