What is a collection of preset formatting options in Word?

The correct answer is styles. In Microsoft Word, a style is a predefined set of formatting characteristics that can be applied to text, paragraphs, tables, or lists. Styles allow users to maintain consistency throughout a document by applying the same formatting to multiple elements with just a click. This includes font type, size, color, line spacing, and other attributes. Styles are particularly useful in longer documents where uniformity is crucial, as they help save time and promote a coherent appearance.

In contrast, the format painter is a tool that allows users to copy formatting from one section of text and apply it to another, but it does not inherently store or manage formatting presets like styles do. Text format refers to the individual attributes applied to text but does not encompass the collection aspect that styles provide. Templates are comprehensive documents that include not just styling but also page layouts, content, and sometimes specific formatting, serving as a starting point for new documents rather than a collection of formatting options alone.