If you want to reduce the number of words in a document without deleting the text in Microsoft Word, you can use various formatting techniques to hide or collapse the content you don't want to be visible while keeping it in the document. Here are a few methods to achieve this [1][4]:
1. Use Hidden Text: Select the text you want to hide. Right-click on the selected text and choose `Font` from the context menu. In the Font dialog box, check the `Hidden` checkbox. Click `OK` to apply the formatting. The text will become hidden, and it won't be visible in the document, but it will still be there.
2. Collapse Text with Expanding/Collapsing Headers: Use headings and subheadings to organize your document. In Word, you can collapse or expand sections under headings to hide or reveal content. Click the small triangle icon next to a heading to collapse or expand the content under it.
3. Use the Show/Hide Button: In Word, there is a button in the toolbar with a paragraph symbol (¶). Clicking this button toggles the visibility of non-printing characters, including spaces, tabs, and paragraph marks. It doesn't hide text but makes it easier to see what's going on in your document.
4. Create Custom Styles: You can create custom paragraph styles that have specific formatting, such as font color set to match the background color, effectively making the text invisible.
5. Use Comments: You can insert comments in Word to provide additional information or explanations without altering the document's main content.
6. Adverbs: Try to remove adverbs and adjectives [1].
7. Repeated information: Redundancies can also be eliminated by looking for repeated information and deleting any redundant points [4]. Additionally, using an active voice can help reduce word count [4].

It is important to keep in mind that even though these methods conceal text from casual readers, the content remains within the document and can be uncovered if someone actively searches for hidden text or scrutinizes the document's structure. Always carefully weigh the intention behind hiding text and evaluate whether it aligns with the document's intended audience and context [4].