Formatting Issues

How to Make Part of a Mail Merge Result Bold in Word

Emma Brown Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to apply bold formatting to only a specific portion of the text returned by a single mail merge field (such as an amount within a sentence).

How to Make Part of a Mail Merge Result Bold in Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting text output dynamically during a mail merge operation.
Observed behavior: A single mail merge field cannot apply formatting to only part of its returned value; any formatting applied affects the entire field.

Before you start

Before starting, ensure your data source (such as an Excel spreadsheet) is properly linked to your Word document and that you have identified the specific data elements you want to emphasize.

Solution 1Recommended

Separate the Data into Distinct Merge Fields

Since a single merge field cannot format only part of its returned value, the recommended approach is to separate the data so the target text (like an amount) has its own distinct field.

To achieve partial formatting, you must break the sentence into static text in the main document and isolate the dynamic value into its own mail merge field.

Modify the data source

Open your linked Excel file or data source and ensure the specific part you want bolded (e.g., 'Amount') is stored in its own separate column, rather than combined in a sentence.

Type regular text in Word

In your Word document, type the static part of your sentence as regular text (e.g., 'Your total balance due is: ').

Insert the isolated merge field

Navigate to the Mailings tab, click 'Insert Merge Field', and select the field containing the amount you want to emphasize.

Apply bold formatting

Highlight the newly inserted merge field (e.g., «Amount») in your document, and press Ctrl+B or click the Bold button on the Home tab to format just that specific field.

Separate the Data into Distinct Merge Fields

Best Practice: Keeping data granular in your source file (separating names, dates, amounts) provides the most flexibility for formatting in mail merges.

Solution 2

Use the Charformat Switch for the Entire Field

If you decide to format the entire merge field rather than just a part of it, you can use the Charformat switch to ensure the formatting carries over consistently.

Seamlessly Perform Mail Merge and Formatting with WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers a comprehensive and user-friendly Mail Merge feature, fully compatible with Microsoft Word documents. You can easily insert distinct merge fields and apply rich formatting to any specific data point.

1. Start Mail Merge: Open your document in WPS Writer and go to the References tab, then click Mail Merge.
2. Link Data Source: Click 'Open Data Source' to connect your Excel spreadsheet containing your separated data fields.
3. Insert and Format Fields: Use 'Insert Merge Field' to place your data. Highlight the specific field you want to emphasize and press Ctrl+B to make it bold.
4. Preview Results: Click 'View Merged Data' to instantly verify that only your targeted fields appear in bold.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) and Excel data sources.Intuitive Mail Merge interface for easy field insertion and precise formatting.Free, lightweight, and fast office suite with familiar UI.Seamlessly preview and adjust text styles before finalizing your merge.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use HTML formatting inside my Excel data source for a mail merge?

No, Word mail merge does not interpret HTML tags (like <b> or <i>) from your data source. You must format the merge fields directly within the Word document.

What is the Charformat switch?

The \* Charformat switch is a code added to a merge field that forces the output to adopt the exact font formatting (like bold, italic, or color) applied to the first character of the field code's name.

Why is my date or number formatting changing after a mail merge?

Mail merge often pulls the raw, unformatted data from your source file. To maintain the correct display format for dates or numbers, you need to add specific formatting switches (like \@ "MMMM d, yyyy" for dates or \# "$,0.00" for currency) directly to your merge field codes.

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