diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/wp/usermodel/CharacterRun.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/wp/usermodel/CharacterRun.java
index 549ef6779b..81117c2bd2 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/wp/usermodel/CharacterRun.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/wp/usermodel/CharacterRun.java
@@ -48,7 +48,9 @@ public interface CharacterRun {
     void setImprinted(boolean imprint);
 
     int getFontSize();
+    float getFontSizeAsFloat();
     void setFontSize(int halfPoints);
+    void setFontSize(float halfPoints);
 
     int getCharacterSpacing();
     void setCharacterSpacing(int twips);
diff --git a/src/scratchpad/src/org/apache/poi/hwpf/usermodel/CharacterRun.java b/src/scratchpad/src/org/apache/poi/hwpf/usermodel/CharacterRun.java
index 3553015364..530196eb26 100644
--- a/src/scratchpad/src/org/apache/poi/hwpf/usermodel/CharacterRun.java
+++ b/src/scratchpad/src/org/apache/poi/hwpf/usermodel/CharacterRun.java
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ import org.apache.poi.hwpf.model.StyleSheet;
 import org.apache.poi.hwpf.sprm.SprmBuffer;
 import org.apache.poi.util.Removal;
 
+import java.math.BigDecimal;
+import java.math.RoundingMode;
+
 /**
  * This class represents a run of text that share common properties.
  */
@@ -349,6 +352,11 @@ public final class CharacterRun extends Range implements Duplicatable, org.apach
     return _props.getHps();
   }
 
+  public float getFontSizeAsFloat()
+  {
+    return (float)getFontSize();
+  }
+
   public void setFontSize(int halfPoints)
   {
     _props.setHps(halfPoints);
@@ -357,6 +365,11 @@ public final class CharacterRun extends Range implements Duplicatable, org.apach
 
   }
 
+  public void setFontSize(float halfPoints)
+  {
+    setFontSize(BigDecimal.valueOf(halfPoints).setScale(0, RoundingMode.HALF_UP).intValue());
+  }
+
   public int getCharacterSpacing()
   {
     return _props.getDxaSpace();