A clean HTML conversion is the best way to start when formatting for e-publication. Conversion from word to HTM is an easy process if you use one of the free online sources. Simply do a search for “Word to HTML” and you will be presented with several choices.
Formatting Styles in Word, Tutorial and How-to Video
Starting with a cleanly formatted Word document makes conversion to an EPUB and Kindle a lot easier. Here’s a quick tutorial and Video on setting the basic styles in Word. “Format Once – Use Everywhere™