Formatting Issues

What Do Two Asterisks Mean in Microsoft Word? (Formatting Guide)

Aamir Naveed Akram Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

Understanding the function and meaning of double asterisks (**) enclosing text in a Word document.

What Do Two Asterisks Mean in Microsoft Word?

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Typing text enclosed in double asterisks with the expectation of triggering a formatting change.
Observed behavior: Text enclosed in double asterisks remains as plain text with asterisks and does not automatically convert to bold or any other special formatting.

Before you start

Keep in mind that while Markdown editors use double asterisks to create bold text, Microsoft Word relies on its own specific AutoFormat rules to handle symbols typed around text.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable AutoFormat for Single Asterisks in Word

While double asterisks have no special function, you can configure Word to automatically format text enclosed in single asterisks as bold or italic.

In Microsoft Word, double asterisks (**) are usually typed manually to emphasize text, but they do not trigger any built-in formatting changes. Word does not provide an equivalent automatic conversion for double asterisks like standard Markdown editors do.

However, Word can automatically convert single asterisks (*) to bold or italic formatting when the relevant AutoCorrect option is enabled.

Open Word Options

Launch Microsoft Word, click on 'File' in the top-left corner, and select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.

Navigate to Proofing

In the Word Options dialog box, click on 'Proofing' in the left-hand pane, then click the 'AutoCorrect Options' button.

Adjust AutoFormat Settings

Navigate to the 'AutoFormat As You Type' tab. Check the box that says '*Bold* and _italic_ with real formatting', then click 'OK' to save your settings.

Enable AutoFormat for Single Asterisks in Word

Note on Markdown Differences: Unlike Markdown where **text** becomes bold and *text* becomes italic, Word replaces *text* with bold formatting if the setting is turned on. Double asterisks will simply remain as typed text.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I automatically bold text using asterisks in Word?

You can use single asterisks around your text (e.g., *bold text*) to trigger automatic formatting. Ensure that the '*Bold* and _italic_ with real formatting' option is checked under File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options > AutoFormat As You Type.

Why did my text not turn bold when I typed two asterisks?

Microsoft Word does not natively support double asterisks for bold formatting like standard Markdown editors do. It only recognizes single asterisks for automatic bold formatting.

Can I create a custom shortcut to turn double asterisks into bold text?

Yes, you can use the AutoCorrect feature in Word to replace specific character strings with formatted text. However, it is usually much faster to highlight the text and press Ctrl+B to apply bold formatting directly.

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