In formal documents, what is the primary use of bold text?

• A. Emphasize foreign words
• B. Highlight headings and key terms
• C. Indicate citations
• D. Denote footnotes

Answer: (B)

Bold text in formal documents is used to create a visual hierarchy by highlighting headings and key terms. This makes the document easier to skim, helping readers quickly find sections and spot important concepts or definitions. It isn’t typically used for foreign words (which are usually italicized), nor for indicating citations or footnotes (citations appear in parentheses or brackets, and footnotes use superscripts with the note at the bottom). So the main purpose is to guide the reader through the structure and emphasize important terms.