Blackboard (Faculty) - Accessibility/Ally: Add and Modify Headings in a Microsoft Word Document

This document provides an overview of how to add headings to a Microsoft Word document.

After clicking a Ally indicator in your course, the feedback panel might indicate that your document does not have headings. Headings separate a document into sections and makes the content navigable by screen readers. Students with low or no vision rely on screen readers to interpret on-screen text, so it is important to add headings to your documents. 

this document does not have headings

You can use the default styles in Microsoft Word to add headings to your document. However, you might want a different font and color. This article provides several methods for styling your document.

Modifying Headings in Microsoft Word

By default, Microsoft Word includes built-in styles for document headings. However, you can easily customize these styles to match your preferred font, color, and line spacing.

Using global style modifications is the most efficient approach because it automatically updates every matching heading across your entire document at once.

How to Modify Heading Styles Globally

  1. Open the Modify dialog: From the Ribbon. Locate the Styles group on the Home tab. Right-click the specific style you want to change (such as Heading 1 or Heading 2) and select Modify.
  2. Adjust basic formatting: Font and Color. In the Formatting section of the dialog box, select your desired font family, text size, and color.
  3. Adjust line spacing: Advanced Layout. To change line or paragraph spacing, click the Format button in the lower-left corner of the dialog box and select Paragraph.... Make your adjustments, then click OK.
  4. Save and apply updates: Automatic execution. Click OK to close the main Modify window. Every instance of that heading style in your document will instantly update to match your new design.

Establishing Your Document Hierarchy

  • Heading 1 (The Main Title): Use this style exactly once per document, exclusively for the main title or document name.
  • Heading 2 (Major Sections): Use this for your primary content divisions or chapters (e.g., "Introduction," "Methodology,"or "References").
  • Heading 3 (Sub-sections): Use this for minor categories nested directly underneath a Heading 2.

Accessibility Note: Maintaining a strict, numerical heading sequence ensures that users navigating with screen readers can easily parse and understand the layout of your information.

Apply the Heading Style to One Heading

  1. Select/highlight the text.

  2. Apply Heading 1 or Heading 2 as applicable from the Styles group on the Ribbon by clicking the style. (Heading 1 is for major sections whereas Heading 2 would be a subcategory of Heading 1)

Use the Format Painter to Copy the Style

  1. Place the cursor in the middle of the formatted Heading 1 style.

  2. Double-click the Format Painter button.

  3. Apply the style to the other headings by clicking or selecting/highlighting the words.

  4. Click the Format Painter button again to turn it off.

  5. Repeat as necessary for Heading 2 styles.

Modify the Style

  1. Right-click over the Heading 1 or Heading 2 style. 

  2. Click Modify.

  3. Change font, color, or Paragraph settings as desired. (Note: Paragraph settings are located under the Format button in the lower left corner.)

  4. Click OK.

  5. All styles will be updated automatically.
Watch the video below for a step-by-step demonstration.



See Also


Keywords:
blackboard, black board, bb, headings, headers, styles, style, format, ally, blackboard ally, word, microsoft word, accessibility, accessible, accessible content, accessible blackboard, accessible course materials 
Doc ID:
82255
Owned by:
Center I. in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Created:
2018-05-15
Updated:
2026-07-27
Sites:
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville