Sub ItalicisePatternedText()
' Paul Beverley - Version 20.05.17
' Italicises all text in the document in current background pattern colour

' Read pattern colour at cursor
Selection.End = Selection.Start + 1
colNow = Selection.Shading.BackgroundPatternColor

'Italicise ALL characters in that colour
For Each ch In ActiveDocument.Characters
  If ch.Shading.BackgroundPatternColor = colNow Then _
       ch.Font.Italic = True
Next ch

End Sub