Why isn't Word adding spaces between differently styled paragraphs?

Question

I have two differently styled paragraphs in Microsoft Word 2010. The first paragraph uses the Subtle Emphasis style, while the second uses List Paragraph. The paragraphs are each separated by 10pt spacing.

I highlight my text, select Paragraph, check Don't add space between paragraphs of the same style, and press OK.

For some reason Word must think Subtle Emphasis and List Paragraph are the same style, because checking this option removes the spacing between my two opening paragraphs.

Why isn't Microsoft Word adding space between two paragraphs which use different font styles?

Answer 1

Subtle Emphasis is a character style and as such doesn't have paragraph related attributes like spacing before or after. List Paragraph however is a paragraph style so it has these attributes.

When you select your emphasized text and apply paragraph related attributes, what matters is the actual paragraph style of that paragraph. The Subtle Emphasis character style doesn't play a part when deciding the amount of spacing between those two paragraphs