Word – How to have two headings at the same “level” in a multilevel list

microsoft wordmicrosoft-word-2010

I found a good article (via Word's help) on how to set up numbered headings using multilevel lists. However, I can't find anything on how to set two different styles to the same level.

For example, suppose I have two styles for headings at the Heading 2 level; they're identical except that one is in a different colour, for situations where I want that particular section to stand out. But it's still at the level of Heading 2, so I'd want it to have the same formatting. Such as:

  1. Heading 1
    1.1. Heading 2
    1.2. Heading 2 other style

In the article linked above you can set each level of the multilevel list to a particular heading style, but there's no ability to select multiple styles.

Is there a way to do this?

Best Answer

I found my own answer: The trick is to have the new style "based" on an existing style that's already part of the numbering scheme.

For example, if I want to have two styles at the "Heading 2" level, one named Heading 2 and one named Heading 2 Red but both at the same level in terms of numbering, I would do the following:

  1. Follow the instructions linked above to set the multilevel numbering, and set it for Heading 1, Heading 2, Heading 3, etc. Leave Heading 2 Red alone, at this point.
  2. Edit the style for Heading 2 Red and set the "Style based on" to Heading 2. This will have it inherit the same numbering settings (and other settings) as Heading 2.

You can do this for any other styles that you want to have at the same level in your numbering scheme, e.g. a Heading 3 Red style at the Heading 3 level or another Heading 2 Green style at the Heading 2 level.

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