How can I include guidance text in Word?

Solution 1:

You could improve the experience by putting the help text into content controls. Each controls can include default text which you would set to the help text that you want and can be set so the control (and the help text along with it) is removed when the user starts typing into it.

Using content controls should also remove the issue of the writer using incorrect formatting for real text as the default text shares a completely different style which isn't inherited when the user begins writing in the control.

When it comes to removing all help text in places where the writer may not be required to enter any information, you may need to run a macro to remove any left over content controls, however keep in mind, you would be required to do this for your original solution anyway to make sure all text is removed.

Solution 2:

I am not sure that this solves your issue but this is how I do it. the text that I want as an instruction and should not be shown when the doc is finished I do selecting that text and formatting it as hidden then this text will only show when the the "show/hidden" button is selected to show. text formatting option to hide selected text and the show/hide button icon