How to get a typed text to print out the same font size as text is written

The next useful step is to determine whether Word creates oversized output before it reaches the HP printer by testing a new document, PDF output, and Word Safe Mode—not by repeating scaling or printer reinstallation.

1. Test a completely new Word document

This distinguishes a damaged document or template formatting issue from a general Word problem.

1. Open Word → File → New → Blank document.
2. Type several lines using Times New Roman, 12 pt.
3. Select the text and press Ctrl+D. Confirm:
   • Font: Times New Roman
   • Size: 12
   • No unusual character scaling or effects
4. Print this one-page document.

Microsoft’s Microsoft 365 printing procedure recommends testing a new blank file and the same font as the affected document. If the new file prints correctly, the original document is likely the issue.^1^

If only existing documents print too large, copy their text into a new blank document using Home → Paste ▼ → Keep Text Only, then reapply the required formatting. This removes hidden direct formatting and style overrides, which can cause unexpected font sizing.^2^

2. Test Word’s PDF output

1. Open the new test document.
2. Select File → Save As.
3. Choose PDF as the file type and save it.
4. Open the PDF and examine its page preview.
5. Print the PDF at Actual size or 100%—not “Fit” or “Shrink oversized pages.”

Interpret the result:

• PDF already looks too large: Word is producing the wrong layout. Continue with Safe Mode and Office repair below.
• PDF looks correct and prints correctly: the problem is in Word’s direct printing path.
• PDF looks correct but also prints too large: the printer queue/driver is altering output. Skip to the printer-driver checks below.

A 12-point font is defined by point size, not by the measured height of each visible letter, so compare the same text printed by Word and PDF rather than estimating whether it resembles 14 pt.

3. Start Word in Safe Mode

Safe Mode starts Word without normal add-ins and some customizations.

1. Close Word completely.
2. Press Windows key+R.
3. Enter:

winword /safe

4. Select OK.
5. Create another blank document with Times New Roman 12 pt and print it.

If Safe Mode prints at the correct size, disable Word add-ins:

1. Open Word normally.
2. Go to File → Options → Add-ins.
3. At the bottom, choose COM Add-ins → Go.
4. Clear the enabled add-ins.
5. Restart Word and test again.

Safe Mode and resetting Word settings are recommended isolation steps when printing fails only in Word on Windows 11.^3^

4. Run Office Online Repair

Since printer reconnection and reinstallation have already been tried, do not repeat them yet. Repair Word itself:

1. Right-click Start → Installed apps.
2. Find Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office.
3. Select the three dots → Modify.
4. Choose Online Repair → Repair.
5. Restart Windows and repeat the blank-document test.

Online Repair is the more complete repair; Quick Repair only detects and replaces certain corrupted files.^4^

If the PDF is correct but the HP print is enlarged

Check which driver Windows assigned, rather than reinstalling the same one again:

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners → HP OfficeJet 5230 → Printer properties.
2. Open the Advanced tab and note the name beside Driver.
3. If it says Generic/Text Only, replace it with an HP model-specific driver. A similar HP printing case specifically advises against Generic/Text Only.^5^
4. Because this is a network printer, check the Ports tab. If it uses WSD, testing the printer on a Standard TCP/IP Port with its IP address is a further driver-path isolation step described in that same case.
5. Test the saved PDF and Word document again.

The decisive results to report are: whether the new blank Word document, saved PDF, and Word Safe Mode output are correctly sized, plus the exact driver name shown on the Advanced tab.

References

1. [Windows](https://support.microsoft.com/office/troubleshoot-printing-problems-in-microsoft-365-apps#run-an-online-repair)
2. Word font size keeps changing - Microsoft Q&A
3. Cannot print a Word document (Office Home & Student 2016, Windows 11) - Microsoft Q&A
4. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/office/lifecycle/repair-an-office-application)
5. printer HP - Microsoft Q&A