Changes to Normal style in MS Word template

[Ghost Lurker]

I've made a few changes to the Normal style in a custom MS Word template
(i.e. NOT Normal.dot) but have heard from different writers that this is
typically not a good idea. But no one has clearly articulated why.

That said, it's difficult to tell if it's ALWAYS a bad idea to do this. I
was tasked to create templates for non-tech writers and document designers
who will change the style "Body Text" to "Normal" in a *custom* template
(i.e. not Normal.dot.) I've seen them do this many times. That said, the
following minor modifications were made to the Normal template:

* Font = Times New Roman, 11 pt.

* Leading = 14 pt.

* Indent = .75 (Left) 0 (Right)

* Paragraph spacing = 6 pt.

(Also, ALL styles are independent of one another in the event someone
attempts to change one style.) Having any of you successfully done something
like this? What should we watch out for?

 

[Howard Kaikow]

This is a "religious" issue.

In general, my religion believes that styles should be designed so modifying
one style affects only a subset of the other styles.

If ALL styles are based on Body Text or Normal or ..., then changing that
style affects all others.
It may be better to create a number of base styles from which various
families of styles are created.
Each of those base styles would be built from scratch, i.e., not based on
any other style.

Oh well, I won't question your right to believe in another religion, so
please respect my religion.