1. A system for applying a first font style to a text string comprised of a plurality of characters, each of the plurality of characters having an associated font style and the text string containing at least one predetermined special character, the apparatus being operable in a computer with a storage for storing the text string, the system comprising: (a) means for sequentially examining each of the plurality of characters to detect predetermined special characters; (b) first means controlled by the examining means for applying the first font style to each examined character which is not a special character; (c) means controlled by the examining means for determining a current font style associated with an each examined special character; (d) means responsive to an examined special character for obtaining a previous font style associated with a character preceding the examined special character and for obtaining a next font style associated with a character following the examined special character; and (e) second means responsive to the previous font style, the next font style and the current font style for applying the first font style to the examined special character.