Hi Curious
If this were my document, I'd do this:
1. Make a copy of the document and put it somewhere safe, so if you make a
mess, you have something to fall back on.
2. Follow the instructions on the following page:
How to create numbered headings or outline numbering in your Microsoft Word
document
http://www.ShaunaKelly.com/word/numbering/OutlineNumbering.html
You have to follow the instructions there in the order given, without
exception.
In particular: NEVER attempt to change the numbering of the styles unless
your cursor is in a Heading 1 paragraph. That, is, if you want to edit the
numbering for level 2 (which is linked to Heading 2) you must put your
cursor in a Heading 1 paragraph.
And remember that the paragraph indent for numbered paragraphs is controlled
by the numbering, not by the paragraph formatting.
3. If you continue to get strange numbering results for a brief period, you
may need to re-apply the style to numbered paragraphs that are having
problems. And/or, triple-click the paragraph (to select the whole
paragraph), then do ctrl-q and then ctrl-spacebar. That removes any direct
formatting from the paragraph and leaves it with the formatting of its
underlying paragraph style.
A more drastic solution would be to create a new document, set up the
numbering scheme in that new document, type some temporary text in that
document in all the styles you intend to use, copy and paste everything
except the last paragraph mark from your existing document, and then remove
the temporary text.
For more information on that technique, see
How can I recover a corrupt document or template - and why did it become
corrupt?
http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/CorruptDoc.htm
Hope this helps.
Shauna Kelly. Microsoft MVP.
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word