This example formats the first word in the active document as italic.
ActiveDocument.Words(1).Italic = True
This example checks the selection for italic formatting and removes any that it finds.
If Selection.Type = wdSelectionNormal Then
mySel = Selection.Font.Italic
If mySel = wdUndefined or mySel = True Then
MsgBox "There's italic text in selection. " _
& "Click OK to remove."
Selection.Font.Italic = False
Else
MsgBox "No italic text in the selection."
End If
Else
MsgBox "You need to select some text."
End If