Formatting Agreement Text and Content

Well-formatted agreements are easier to read, understand, and present a professional image. The rich text editor provides tools to structure your content with headings, lists, emphasis, and links.

The Rich Text Toolbar

When editing a text section, the toolbar appears with formatting controls:

Text Styling:

• Bold
• Italic
• Underline
• Strikethrough (possibly)

Structure:

• Headings (H1, H2, H3)
• Paragraphs
• Bulleted lists
• Numbered lists

Alignment:

• Left
• Center
• Right
• Justify (possibly)

Other:

• Links
• Clear formatting

Using Headings

Headings structure your agreement into clear sections:

H1 (Heading 1):
Main section titles (“Payment Terms,” “Scope of Services”)

H2 (Heading 2):
Subsections within main sections (“Late Payment Fees” under “Payment Terms”)

H3 (Heading 3):
Further subdivisions if needed

How to apply:

1. Select the text or place cursor in the line
2. Click the heading button (H1, H2, H3) or heading dropdown
3. Text becomes a heading

Example structure:

# GENERAL SERVICE AGREEMENT (H1)

## 1. Scope of Services (H2)
We will provide...

## 2. Payment Terms (H2)

### 2.1 Payment Schedule (H3)
Invoices are due...

### 2.2 Late Fees (H3)
Late payments incur...

Best practices:

• Use H1 sparingly (main agreement title)
• Use H2 for major clauses
• Use H3 for subsections
• Don’t skip levels (H1 → H2 → H3, not H1 → H3)

Bold, Italic, and Underline

Bold:
Emphasize important terms, headings, or key phrases.

Examples:

• “You must provide…”
• “Important: All payments are non-refundable.”

Italic:
Subtle emphasis, definitions, or examples.

Examples:

• “The term Client refers to…”
• “For example, social media marketing includes…”

Underline:
Use sparingly. Underlined text often resembles links, which can confuse readers.

How to apply:

1. Select the text
2. Click Bold (B), Italic (I), or Underline (U) button
3. Or use keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl/Cmd + B, Ctrl/Cmd + I, Ctrl/Cmd + U

Creating Lists

Lists organize information clearly.

Bulleted Lists

Use for unordered items:

Services include:

• Website design
• Logo creation
• Brand guidelines
• Social media templates

How to create:

1. Click the Bullet List button
2. Type the first item and press Enter
3. Continue adding items
4. Press Enter twice or click the button again to exit the list

Numbered Lists

Use for ordered steps, priorities, or sequential items:

Termination process:

1. Provide written notice
2. Complete work in progress
3. Deliver final files
4. Receive final payment

How to create:

1. Click the Numbered List button
2. Type items as with bulleted lists

Nested lists:
Some editors support indenting list items to create sub-lists. Press Tab or use indent buttons.

Paragraphs and Line Breaks

New paragraph:
Press Enter to create a new paragraph with spacing.

Line break (soft return):
Shift + Enter creates a line break without paragraph spacing (if supported).

Use paragraphs:

• For distinct ideas or clauses
• To prevent walls of text
• To improve readability

Keep paragraphs short:
3-5 sentences typically. Long paragraphs overwhelm readers, especially on mobile.

Text Alignment

Left align (default):
Standard for body text. Most readable.

Center align:
Use for titles, headings, or special emphasis.

Right align:
Rarely used in agreements. Possibly for signatures or dates.

Justify:
Aligns both left and right edges. Can look formal but may create awkward spacing.

How to apply:

1. Select text or place cursor in paragraph
2. Click alignment button (left, center, right, justify)

Best practice:
Keep body text left-aligned. Center only titles if desired.

Adding Links

Add hyperlinks to external resources or references:

How to insert link:

1. Select the text to become the link
2. Click the Link button or press Ctrl/Cmd + K
3. Enter the URL
4. Click Insert or OK

Examples:

• Link to your privacy policy
• Link to referenced documents
• Link to external regulations or laws

Display text:
Use descriptive text, not raw URLs:
✅ “Privacy Policy”
❌ “https://example.com/privacy”

To remove link:
Select linked text and click Unlink or press Ctrl/Cmd + K and clear the URL.

Clearing Formatting

If text has unwanted formatting (from pasting, fo r example):

1. Select the text
2. Click Clear Formatting or Remove Formatting button
3. Text returns to default style

When to use:

• After pasting from Word or Google Docs
• To reset over-formatted text
• To start fresh with styling

Copying and Pasting Content

Pasting from word processors:

1. Copy text from Word, Google Docs, etc.
2. Paste into the editor (Ctrl/Cmd + V)
3. Most basic formatting carries over (bold, headings, lists)
4. Review and adjust as needed

Paste as plain text:
Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + V (if supported) pastes without formatting.

Common issues:

• Extra line breaks or spacing
• Lost headings or list formatting
• Unwanted colors or fonts

Solution:
Manually reapply formatting using the toolbar.

Special Characters

Need symbols like ©, ®, §, or —?

Methods:

• Copy-paste from character map or websites
• Type directly if your keyboard supports it
• HTML entities (if editor supports): © for ©

Common symbols:

• © (copyright)
• ™ (trademark)
• ® (registered trademark)
• § (section)
• — (em dash)
• • (bullet)

Using Tables (If Supported)

Some editors support tables for structured information:

Use tables for:

• Payment schedules
• Pricing tiers
• Delivered milestones
• Responsibilities matrix

How to insert:
Look for Table button in toolbar or insert menu.

If tables aren’t supported:
Use lists or formatted text with spacing.

Color and Fonts

Text color:
Some editors allow changing text color. Use sparingly—black text is most readable.

Highlight/background color:
Occasionally useful for emphasis, but professional agreements typically avoid heavy color.

Font family and size:
Usually controlled at document level, not per-text. Check document settings.

Best practice:
Stick to default fonts and black text for legal documents. Color can be distracting or unprofessional.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Speed up formatting with shortcuts:

• Ctrl/Cmd + B – Bold
• Ctrl/Cmd + I – Italic
• Ctrl/Cmd + U – Underline
• Ctrl/Cmd + K – Insert link
• Ctrl/Cmd + Z – Undo
• Ctrl/Cmd + Y – Redo
• Ctrl/Cmd + A – Select all
• Ctrl/Cmd + C – Copy
• Ctrl/Cmd + V – Paste

Best Practices

✅ Use headings consistently: H2 for major sections, H3 for subsections.

✅ Bold sparingly: Overuse diminishes impact. Reserve for truly important terms.

✅ Lists over paragraphs: If you have 3+ related items, use a list.

✅ Short paragraphs: 3-5 sentences. Easier to scan and read.

✅ Left-align body text: Most readable and professional.

✅ Avoid excessive formatting: Agreements should be clear and functional, not flashy.

✅ Preview formatting: Check how it looks in preview mode before sending.

✅ Consistent style: Use the same formatting conventions throughout (all H2s look the same, etc.).

Common Questions

Can I use custom fonts?
Typically no, or only via document-level settings. The editor uses web-safe fonts.

What if formatting looks different after saving?
Some advanced formatting may be simplified by the editor. Preview to see actual rendering.

Can I indent paragraphs?
Some editors support indentation. Look for indent buttons or list nesting.

How do I create a signature line (horizontal line)?
Some editors have a horizontal rule button. Or use underscores: _____________ (not ideal).

Can I add footnotes or endnotes?
Usually not supported. Include notes inline or in a separate “Notes” section.

What’s the difference between H1, H2, H3?
Font size and hierarchy. H1 is largest/most important, H2 is next, H3 is smaller.

Can I undo formatting changes?
Yes, Ctrl/Cmd + Z undoes recent changes (within the editing session).

How do I copy formatting from one text to another?
Manually reapply formatting. Format painter isn’t typically available in web editors.

Related Articles

• Using the Agreement Document Editor
• Adding Sections to Your Agreement
• Adding Images and Visual Elements
• Creating Your First Agreement