A GUIDE TO USING MICROSOFT WORD
This is a word processing program, which enables you to write and edit text using the computer. Various facilities are provided via drop-down menus in the menu bar and buttons in the toolbar, which are found at the top of the screen. Context menus, obtained by right clicking with the mouse are also very useful as they only give you what you probably want.
ENTERING TEXT: Lower case: type in the characters required from the keyboard. Upper case: hold down the shift key at the same time.

The computer will word-wrap automatically at the end of each line of text. Type one space between words, two spaces between sentences and press [Enter] twice to start a new paragraph.
TABULATING TEXT: Press the tab key, marked to line the cursor up with a tab stop, shown below the ruler at the top of the screen:
MOVING AROUND: 1. Keyboard: press the arrow key to move the cursor in the direction required. For quicker movement: [PgUp] and [PgDn] keys are also provided.

2. Mouse: point and click to insert the cursor into the text where required. Point and click in the scroll bar on the right-hand side of the screen to see the work above or below the screen.
DELETING TEXT: Delete character to left of cursor:

Delete character to right of cursor: [Del] or [Delete]

Delete highlighted text or image: [Del] or [Delete]
INSERTING TEXT: Use the arrow keys, or point and click with the mouse to insert the cursor at the position required. Then simply type in the new piece of text. Check for correct word spacing.
HIGHLIGHTING TEXT: Place the cursor at the start of the text to be highlighted, then holding down the left mouse button, drag over the word or paragraph by moving the mouse. To highlight all of the text: simply select Edit/Select All
CUT & PASTE: To copy/move/delete whole paragraphs first highlight the text involved. Right-click on it with the mouse, or select Cut or Copy from the Edit menu, as appropriate. Move the cursor to the position at which the paragraph is to be moved or copied. Right-click or select Paste from the Edit menu. Or use the buttons in the tool bar. Or simply just drag the highlighted text into position.
SEARCH & REPLACE: Select Edit/Replace from the menu bar, type in the exact string of characters you want to find and then what it is to be replaced with. Click on the check boxes if you want to match whole words only and with exactly the same case.
INDENT MARGINS: First highlight the text or move the cursor to any point in the paragraph. Then drag inwards the whole margin markers found on the ends of the ruler at the top of the screen.
JUSTIFY MARGINS or CENTRE TEXT:

First highlight the text or move the cursor to any point in the title or paragraph, then select Format/Paragraph or point and click on the desired justification button in the tool bar. Never type with full justification turned on as it will become confusing.
LINE SPACING: First highlight the text or move the cursor to any point in the paragraph, then select Format/Paragraph or point and click on the desired line space button in the tool bar.
BOLD / UNDERLINE / ITALIC / COLOUR: First highlight the word or words, then select Format/Font or point and click on the appropriate style button in the tool bar.
FONT FACE & SIZE: First highlight the text, then point and click on the arrow button at the top of the screen next to the font and size display windows. Select from the list provided in each case.
BULLETS or NUMBERS: First highlight the list of items, then select Format/Bullets and Numbering or point and click on the desired button in the tool bar.
TABLES: Select Table/Insert Table or point and click on the button in the menu bar. Indicate the number of rows and columns required.
PICTURES: Select Insert/Picture or point and click on the button in the tool bar.

To wrap text around a picture, click on it then select Format/ Picture/Wrapping or point and click on the button in the tool bar.
SAVING WORK: Select File/Save but if you want to change the filename select File/Save As
PRINTING WORK: Select File/Print
CLOSING WORK: Select File/Close or click on the lower of the two buttons in the top right-hand corner of the screen.
LOADING A FILE: Select File/Open. Select the required drive and folder (or directory) then double-click on one of the filenames listed.
FINISH PROGRAM: Select File/Exit or click on the upper of the two buttons in the very top right-hand corner of the screen.

Page last updated 23/05/2003 © Copyright, I.D.Lee, Didcot Girls' School.
All rights reserved. The original material provided on this site may not be copied or redistributed without written consent from the school.