Fix Missing Bold Gill Sans Nova When Saving Word Documents as PDF
Question details
Users need to resolve an issue where the bold formatting of the Gill Sans Nova font is lost during PDF conversion.

- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Exporting a Microsoft Word document that contains bold Gill Sans Nova text into a PDF file format.
- Observed behavior
- The bold Gill Sans Nova text is not embedded correctly, resulting in missing or altered text formatting in the final exported PDF.
Ensure your Microsoft 365 Apps are updated to the latest version and verify that the Gill Sans Nova font family is properly installed and active on your system.
Report the Font Embedding Issue via Microsoft Feedback
Since this is a known rendering limitation within Microsoft 365 Apps, submitting a detailed feedback report to the Word product team is the official channel to escalate the bug for a future patch.
Microsoft relies on direct user feedback to identify specific font embedding failures. Reporting the exact font, version, and providing a sample document helps their development team reproduce and resolve the export engine issue.
Launch Microsoft Word and open the document containing the bold Gill Sans Nova text that is failing to export.
Click on the 'Help' tab located on the top ribbon, then select 'Send Feedback' from the available options.
Choose 'I don't like something' to report the unexpected behavior or bug during the PDF conversion process.
Type a clear description of the issue. Be sure to include the font name (Gill Sans Nova), your current Word version, and your Windows version. If permitted, check the box to attach a sample document.
Click the 'Submit' button. Your feedback is sent directly to the Microsoft product development team for review.

Try WPS Office for Flawless PDF Exports
If you frequently encounter font embedding errors or formatting loss when exporting PDFs in Microsoft Word, WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative. Enjoy seamless document viewing and accurate PDF rendering without the premium cost.
- 1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office Free from the official website and complete the quick installation process.
- 2. Open your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx file containing the Gill Sans Nova font.
- 3. Export to PDF: Go to the 'Menu', select 'Export to PDF', and save your document with perfectly embedded fonts and formatting.

Frequently Asked Questions
Why do fonts change or disappear when I save a Word document as a PDF?
This usually occurs when the specific fonts used in your document fail to embed into the PDF file during the export process. If the PDF reader cannot find the embedded font data, it substitutes it with a default system font, altering the appearance or causing formatting issues.
How can I force Word to embed all fonts in a PDF?
You can enable font embedding by going to File > Options > Save, and checking 'Embed fonts in the file'. When saving as a PDF, click 'Options' in the Save As dialog box and ensure 'Bitmap text when fonts may not be embedded' is selected. Note that some fonts have licensing restrictions or bugs preventing them from embedding regardless of these settings.
Does using 'Print to PDF' work better than 'Save as PDF'?
In some cases, yes. 'Print to PDF' acts as a virtual printer and relies on the system's print spooler rather than Word's native PDF export engine. This can sometimes bypass specific rendering bugs related to complex typography or certain font families like Gill Sans Nova.




