Font Size

I know that this sounds like a silly answer, but it really can help.
When I was writing articles that required word counts, I wrote them all in one huge paragraph, and then once I was done writing, I went back and put in the spaces, and paragraph sections.
Often, I do that anyway as I read through a post and think that it needs broken into more paragraphs with space in between so it doesn’t looked clogged together.
Ken probably has the Official Answer for you, but in the meantime, this can get you by, Sheldon.

 

I don't know. I don't change the font sizes. If I am writing a longish post, I might write it in a text editor, but at the normal font size, then paste it into the forum. For shorter posts, like this one, I'll just write it into the reply box.

 

It's right on top of the text field: B=Bold, I=Italics, and so on. If you hover your cursor over them, a little box will pop up telling you what each of them does.

 

Here's a screenshot:

-Highlight the text you want to apply the format to
-Click "B" for Bold, "I" for Italics, and "U" for Underline.

You can change text color, size and font using the 3 "A" buttons to the right of the ones I circled.
You can apply other formats using the pull-down on that icon you see highlighted with the pull-down menu.
-"Quote"

-"Spoiler"

Spoiler: Click here, Mr. Ford

obscures the text and puts a button over top of it that you click to read the text.

-I don't know what "Code" does. Probably allows you to use HTML.
-"Strike Through" strikes through the text.

Just make sure to highlight the text you want to apply the changes to; otherwise, those buttons will do nothing.