What is the primary function of "Styles" in Microsoft Word?

The primary function of "Styles" in Microsoft Word is to apply consistent formatting to text and paragraphs throughout a document. Styles allow users to define specific formatting characteristics, such as font type, size, color, spacing, and indentation, and then apply these settings to various sections of the text with a single click. This not only saves time but also ensures uniformity in formatting, making the document more aesthetically pleasing and easier to read.

Using styles can enhance the organization of a document, as they can also be used to create a hierarchical structure, which is useful for building outlines or generating tables of contents. Additionally, if changes to formatting are needed, users can simply modify the style rather than updating each instance of the text manually, which greatly improves efficiency in document editing and maintenance.

While other options have their own functions, they do not directly relate to the primary purpose of styles. For example, creating automatic tables of contents relies on styles but is not the function of styles themselves. Inserting images and graphics pertain to content creation rather than text formatting, and spell-checking is focused on error correction instead of formatting.