Word style “keep with next” except on last item

microsoft word

I'm writing specifications using Word documents with a general style like this:

# Heading 1
intro paragraph
* bullet1
* bullet2
* bullet3

# Heading 2
intro paragraph
* bullet1
* bullet2

# Heading 3
intro paragraph
* bullet1
* bullet2
* bullet3
* bullet4
* bullet5

I want each heading, intro paragraph, and associated bullets to stay together whenever possible. As such, I have styles for each with the Paragraph option "Keep with Next" checked. However, this results in everything sticking together too tightly.

To fix it I currently go to the last bullet in each list and change its style to one that does not have "Keep with Next" checked. For example, the bullets have a style "ReqBullet" and I create another style "LastReqBullet" that inherits from "ReqBullet", but which has "Keep with Next" turned off.

(I could alternatively override the setting on each bullet, but doing it via a style makes it easier to apply, and also easier to see where it is set.)

Using manual style application is slightly cumbersome, and error-prone. If I add a new item to the end, I have to swap styles. Often I will forget to apply the style until I realize that the formatting is wonky.

The question

Is there a way hidden in the bowels of the Style settings to say either:

  • Keep this paragraph with the next but only if it's the same style, or
  • I don't care what the previous paragraph told you, do NOT keep me with it (which I could apply to the headings)

Best Answer

As far as I know, there is no such setting like this. But, I think you could create a style with Keep With Next turned off just for the blank space after the last bullet. So you need not to change the bullet style when adding new bullet.

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