Numbering styles are style definitions which specify common style properties for a multi-level numbering format within a document. This means that a numbering style defines only a single paragraph property: a reference to a numbering definition stored in the document’s numbering part, using the numPr element.

Unlike paragraph and character styles, numbering styles are never directly referenced by content in the document – instead, an abstract numbering definition (covered in the numbering section) specifies that it is actually the underlying numbering information for a numbering style.

[Example: Consider a numbering style “Test Numbering Style”:

<w:style w:type="numbering" w:styleId="TestNumberingStyle">

<w:name w:val="Test Numbering Style" />

<w:priority w:val="99" />

<w:rsid w:val="0045009F" />

<w:pPr>

<w:numPr>

<w:numId w:val="1" />

</w:numPr>

</w:pPr>

</w:style>

The only information specified in the numbering style definition is a reference to the numbering definition for the numbering information which is defined by this numbering style. end example]