Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About
Application Software:
Microsoft Word

 

Word processing programs, like Microsoft Word, are perfect applications for the office and for the student.  The main benefit of programs such as these is that changes and modifications can be made to any document without much trouble.  In the days of the typewriter, even the smallest change in a document might mean that the entire document would have to be retyped.

  • To open Microsoft Word, click on "START" on the bottom taskbar.  Go to Programs, click, and click on Microsoft Word.  You are now ready to start inputting your data.

  • You can start typing your document and format when you are done.  Below is a guide to basic formatting of documents.  One of the best ways to learn the toolbar is to slowly run the cursor over the toolbar icons; the program will display a yellow box where a description of what the button does will display.

  • Be sure to highlight all text you want affected by the formatting change.

Bold, Italics, Underline

On the top tool bar, the Letters "B" (bold), "I" (italics), and "U" (underline) are shown.  Clicking the buttons ON turn on the attribute; clicking the buttons OFF turn off the attribute.

Bullets

If you want to create a list with bullets, Microsoft Word will do it for you automatically. With the cursor on the first line, click on the button with 3 blue squares to the right of the 1-2-3 button.  Every time you "enter," a new bulleted line will be produced.

Font Color

Black is the most commonly used font color.  Sometimes for emphasis you may want to use a different color.  To change the font color, click on the arrow to the right of the "A" button and select the color.
If you are using a printer without a color cartridge, even though you format the font for a color other than black, it will still print black. Also, most printers print considerably slower in color than they do in black and white.

Font Style and Size

The default font is usually Times Roman, but some Word programs are set for Ariel.  Arrow icons on the right of the font and the right of the size are used to make your selection.

Indents

To increase or decrease the indents, use the buttons to the right of the 1-2-3 and blue square buttons.  These buttons will also change the shape of the bullets as you increase or decrease.

Margins

Click on FILE on the top tool bar; select Page Set Up.  On the Margins tab, increase or decrease margins as desired.

Numbered Bullets

If you want to create a numbered list, Microsoft Word will do it for you automatically. With the cursor on the first line, click on the 1-2-3 button to the right of the paragraph justification buttons.  Every time you "enter," a new number will be assigned to that line.

Paragraph Justification

To the right of the "B," "I" and "U" buttons, are four buttons with six lines.  Notice that one set of lines is justified on the left, which is used most often.  Another set of lines is centered, which is used for titles or headings.  Another set is justified on the right, which is not used much.  The fourth set is even or justified on both sides, which is what is used in newspapers and periodicals.

Spell Check

Another huge advantage of word processing software is the spell check that is included.  To check a document, click on Tools on the top tool bar, and select Spelling and Grammar.  The spell check will stop on any word that is not in the program dictionary.  

One of the most valuable buttons to use is the "Help" button Microsoft provides.  You should find answers to any of your questions there.

Microsoft Access
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word


System Software

Return to Main Page

Created by Brad Eaton and Chris Sidebottom
Students at Hobart Middle School, Hobart, Indiana
To report problems with this page or broken links, contact Webmaster
Copyright
© 2003. All Rights Reserved