Why can't I see what I am writing?

Format says hide until used, how do I get rid of that?

Until an expert shows up go to an open Word doc and in the top right Help
block type -- hide until used --. There's a topic "Hide text" that shows a
"Hidden" block to be chk'd in Format/Font/Effects section of the Font Tab.
Check there or other Topics the Help Query shows. Good luck.