Bold - used for headings or emphasis of words

Italic - used to indicate common phrases, technical terms that you want to ‘pull out’ of the page. Can appear lighter on the page so using Bold and Italic text may be better.

Underline - carried over from the typewriting era so if now generally avoided. Can be mistaken for a Hypertext link.

Reversed Out - used for titles and adverts to attract attention.

Outline and Shadow - Modern ways of emphasising headings and title but must not be used on posters and advertisements. Try to avoid these!

Distorted, curving, slanting, reshaping - Modern way of emphasising headings and must be avoided. Very often a more professional impact created by a document often not use these effects. If it can not be avoided then only as a heading.

Upper Case or Capital Letters - headings only, avoid them for everything else.

Lower Case or Small Letters - web pages, email addresses and futuristic look e.g fcuk trademark.

Drop Cap - sometimes used to start a magazine article.

Left justification - for a large range of text

Centred - titles and sub-headings

Justified - an alternative to left justified paragraphs but be aware of large gaps in text which can distract the eye.

Columns - makes text easier to read.

Gutter - the gap between columns

Hypenation - can help reduce the ragged edges of paragraph on a document.

Superscript and Subscript - use for footnotes, mathematical powers, fractions and chemical formulae.

Single line spacing - text in a paragraph appear on every line. Normally there is a single blank line between each paragraph. This is the most common paragraph setting and used for letters, memorandums, agendas.

Double line spacing - text appear on every other line. Normally there are three blank lines between each paragraph.

First line indent - the first line only is indented away from the left hand margin. This can found in most newspaper articles and novels and most standard documents except letters.

Hanging indent - the first line is on the margin where as the rest of the paragraph is indented. This effect can create extra emphasis on the first line of the paragraph.