How can you quickly format a whole table in Word?

The quickest way to format a whole table in Word is by using the 'Table Design' tools available in the Ribbon. This feature is specifically designed to provide a comprehensive set of formatting options for tables, allowing you to apply styles, color schemes, and other design elements efficiently.

When you select a table, the Table Design tab appears in the Ribbon, presenting a variety of pre-designed table styles that can be applied with a single click. Additionally, you can customize borders, shading, and effects from this tab, streamlining the formatting process without needing to navigate through multiple menus or dialogs. This method is particularly effective because it allows for consistent application of formatting across the entire table, enhancing its presentation while saving time.

Other options would require more effort or steps, such as right-clicking to access context menus or selecting individual cells, which is impractical for larger tables. Utilizing keyboard shortcuts might also simplify specific tasks, but it wouldn’t provide the comprehensive and visually coherent formatting that the Table Design tools readily offer.