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Agree, pandoc makes the best word files IMO. It doesn’t allow you to make too many style formatting changes so write in markdown and use pandoc to create the word file using simple headers, standard formatting.

Seems hard to replicate this approach in word in my experience without good discipline

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Indeed, I've used pandoc to deliver above average looking documents easily on the occasions it's been required. On the rare occasions I've had to use Word directly I didn't struggle to stick to the theme, though. What did you find difficult?

I’ve just never really used word by sticking to a theme, and tend to end up using custom formatting quite a bit e.g. I use heading 2 where I shouldn’t and should be using heading 1, use paragraphs in the wrong place etc.

Use some custom formatting in a paragraph when I should be using a preset default etc

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