Selective bold or italic formatting can help a Google Slides audience identify a key term without making the entire slide visually heavy. Apply emphasis to the intended words, then check that the meaning remains clear even for someone who does not perceive or hear the formatting difference.
Select the exact wording
Open the slide on a computer, enter the text box, and highlight the relevant phrase. Confirm that you selected text rather than the whole object. If the intended emphasis covers a complete sentence, read it in context before applying the style.
Apply the style
Use the toolbar’s bold or italic control. Google’s Slides shortcuts also list Ctrl+B for bold and Ctrl+I for italic on Windows, with Command+B and Command+I on Mac. A shortcut can toggle a style, so inspect the result rather than pressing it repeatedly without checking.
Use emphasis consistently. If bold identifies a defined term on one slide and an urgent warning on another, the audience may have to guess what the styling means.
Check readability and meaning
Present the slide at its intended size. Italic text can become harder to read when the font is small or the line is long. Google’s accessibility guidance advises using text to support formatting because a screen reader may not announce a visual style change. For an essential warning, include clear wording such as “Important” rather than relying on bold alone. Remove unnecessary emphasis when too many highlighted phrases compete for attention.
References
- Keyboard shortcuts for Google Slides
- Make your document, presentation, sheets & videos more accessible
Reviewed against the linked official product guidance on November 3, 2026. Features, limits, screen labels, and access can vary by account, platform, region, and organization policy.