Font, size, and color issues in Mentur
Learn why Mentur flags a font, size, or color and correct the typography while preserving consistency.
Updated August 9, 2026
By Equipo Mentur
On this page
How to review font, size, and color
Compare the highlighted excerpt with the style used throughout the main text. Review font family, size, and color separately because the same selection may have more than one observation.
Apply changes through Word’s font settings. If several excerpts share a style, correct that style first and check the result throughout the document. Keep a difference only when the content belongs to a valid exception, such as text inside a figure or a footnote.
See the permitted combinations and exceptions under APA font and size.
Issues Mentur may show
Find the same title shown in your report. Each explanation helps you understand the result, apply the correction, and consult the related APA rule.
Minor
Recommendation: use black text
What we found
This text uses a color that may make it harder to read. Color also affects readability: weak contrast can make text difficult to read or cause information to disappear when printed. Distinguish ordinary text from uses of color that communicate information, and check any additional requirements from the institution.
How to fix it
- 1In the report, open the observation titled “Recommendation: use black text” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
- 2Use an accessible APA-compatible font and size consistently throughout the paper, unless a specific element allows an exception.
- 3Check another paragraph or page that uses the same style. If the change came from a Word style, confirm that it did not alter valid exceptions elsewhere in the paper.
APA criterion
APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Section 2.19: use readable fonts and keep typography consistent throughout the paper.
Read the rule in the APA guideCritical
Font is inconsistent across the paper
What we found
The paper mixes fonts or sizes without a clear reason. Font and size form a combination; having only one acceptable value is not enough. APA Style allows several readable combinations, but body text should use one consistently. Some elements, such as text inside a figure or a footnote, may need a justified exception.
How to fix it
- 1In the report, open the observation titled “Font is inconsistent across the paper” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
- 2Apply the valid APA combination that dominates the paper to the flagged text. In Word, select the text and use Home > Font and Font Size. Review permitted exceptions for figure images, computer code, and automatic footnotes separately.
- 3Check another paragraph or page that uses the same style. If the change came from a Word style, confirm that it did not alter valid exceptions elsewhere in the paper.
APA criterion
APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Section 2.19: use an accessible font consistently throughout the text; some specialized elements allow exceptions.
Read the rule in the APA guideWarning
Incorrect font family
What we found
This text uses a different font or size than expected. Font and size form a combination; having only one acceptable value is not enough. APA Style allows several readable combinations, but body text should use one consistently. Some elements, such as text inside a figure or a footnote, may need a justified exception.
How to fix it
- 1In the report, open the observation titled “Incorrect font family” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
- 2Apply the font and size shown under “It should look like this.” If no expected value is available, choose one of the displayed APA combinations and use it consistently in the main text. In Word, select the text and use Home > Font and Font Size.
- 3Check another paragraph or page that uses the same style. If the change came from a Word style, confirm that it did not alter valid exceptions elsewhere in the paper.
It should look like this:
12-point Times New Roman
11-point Arial
11-point Calibri
11-point Georgia
10-point Lucida Sans Unicode
10-point Computer ModernAPA criterion
APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Section 2.19: use an accessible font at its corresponding size and keep it consistent throughout the text.
Read the rule in the APA guideCritical
Font not recommended for APA Style
What we found
This font is not among the recommended options. Font and size form a combination; having only one acceptable value is not enough. APA Style allows several readable combinations, but body text should use one consistently. Some elements, such as text inside a figure or a footnote, may need a justified exception.
How to fix it
- 1In the report, open the observation titled “Font not recommended for APA Style” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
- 2Change the excerpt to the valid combination that dominates the paper. If none exists, use 12-point Times New Roman; 11-point Arial, Calibri, or Georgia; or 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode or Computer Modern. Apply the selected combination consistently to the main text.
- 3Check another paragraph or page that uses the same style. If the change came from a Word style, confirm that it did not alter valid exceptions elsewhere in the paper.
It should look like this:
12-point Times New Roman
11-point Arial
11-point Calibri
11-point Georgia
10-point Lucida Sans Unicode
10-point Computer ModernAPA criterion
APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Section 2.19: use an accessible and consistent font; the correction example lists the six recommended combinations.
Read the rule in the APA guideWarning
Font could not be determined
What we found
We could not confirm the font and size applied to the excerpt. The format may depend on a document style, so set a visible and consistent value when needed. Font and size form a combination; having only one acceptable value is not enough. APA Style allows several readable combinations, but body text should use one consistently. Some elements, such as text inside a figure or a footnote, may need a justified exception.
How to fix it
- 1In the report, open the observation titled “Font could not be determined” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
- 2Set the font and size shown under “It should look like this.” If no expected value is available, apply the valid APA combination that dominates the paper. In Word, select the text and use Home > Font and Font Size.
- 3Check another paragraph or page that uses the same style. If the change came from a Word style, confirm that it did not alter valid exceptions elsewhere in the paper.
It should look like this:
12-point Times New Roman
11-point Arial
11-point Calibri
11-point Georgia
10-point Lucida Sans Unicode
10-point Computer ModernAPA criterion
APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Section 2.19: use an accessible font consistently throughout the text.
Read the rule in the APA guideWarning
Valid font differs from the dominant font
What we found
This font is valid, but it does not match the rest of the paper. Font and size form a combination; having only one acceptable value is not enough. APA Style allows several readable combinations, but body text should use one consistently. Some elements, such as text inside a figure or a footnote, may need a justified exception.
How to fix it
- 1In the report, open the observation titled “Valid font differs from the dominant font” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
- 2Change the excerpt to the font and size used throughout the main text. Keep a different combination only when the excerpt belongs to an APA exception, such as a figure image, computer code, or an automatic footnote.
- 3Check another paragraph or page that uses the same style. If the change came from a Word style, confirm that it did not alter valid exceptions elsewhere in the paper.
APA criterion
APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Section 2.19: keep the same font throughout the text, with exceptions for certain specialized elements.
Read the rule in the APA guideCritical
Incorrect font size
What we found
The size of this text does not match the font used. Font and size form a combination; having only one acceptable value is not enough. APA Style allows several readable combinations, but body text should use one consistently. Some elements, such as text inside a figure or a footnote, may need a justified exception.
How to fix it
- 1In the report, open the observation titled “Incorrect font size” and use its location or highlighted evidence to find the affected content.
- 2Keep the detected font and apply its corresponding APA size, shown under “It should look like this.” If you also change the font, use one complete combination from the example and apply it consistently to the main text.
- 3Check another paragraph or page that uses the same style. If the change came from a Word style, confirm that it did not alter valid exceptions elsewhere in the paper.
It should look like this:
12-point Times New Roman
11-point Arial
11-point Calibri
11-point Georgia
10-point Lucida Sans Unicode
10-point Computer ModernAPA criterion
APA Publication Manual, 7th ed., Section 2.19: use an accessible font at its recommended size and keep the same font throughout the text.
Read the rule in the APA guide
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