Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of formatted text?

The correct answer is indeed Plain characters, as this option fundamentally defines unformatted text rather than formatted text. Formatted text encompasses various enhancements that modify the appearance of the text to improve readability and visual appeal. Rich text options allow for different types and styles of formatting, such as font changes and coloring. Italics and bold styles are specific examples of formatting that emphasize certain parts of the text, making them visually distinct. Alignment settings, which define how text is positioned on the page (e.g., left, center, right), also fall under the umbrella of text formatting. Hence, Plain characters signify the absence of any formatting, making them incompatible with the concept of formatted text.