

A new document can be created by hitting Control-N or Command-N, or by choosing the “New Blank Document” option from the File menu or the standard toolbar.Įdit – The edit menu or toolbar in Microsoft Word allows users to perform basic editing functions in their document such as copying, cutting and pasting. The Cut function can also be found under the Edit menu or the toolbar.ĭocument – Each document in Microsoft Word is essentially a new file.

Control-X or Command-X are the keyboard shortcuts for the Cut function on Windows and Mac respectively. Alternatively, users can also select the text and then click the “Copy” option under the Edit menu or in the main toolbar.Ĭut – Cutting text removes the text entirely from the viewable document and stores it in the clipboard. Pressing the Control and C keys in Windows or Command and C on a Mac will copy the text. Click on “Clipboard” under the Edit menu to view any text that may be temporarily stored in it.Ĭopy – Copying text simply means making a replica of any text that is currently selecting and saving it to the clipboard.

Using the Cut or Copy commands will place the text in the clipboard. To add bullets or numbering to a series of text, click on the corresponding buttons in the formatting toolbar or choose “Bullets and Numbering” from the Format menu.Ĭlipboard – The clipboard acts as a type of storage area when a piece of text is temporarily removed and stored for later use within the same session. Alignment can be set from the formatting toolbar at the top of the window or under by choosing “Paragraph” under the Format menu.īullets/Numbering – When creating a list of text items, users can choose from several bullet or numbering system to add a small graphic icon or series of numbers before each item. In this guide, new users will learn the basic functions of Microsoft Word and how to use them.Īlignment – The alignment options dictate whether the left and right edges of the text in a document adhere to the right side, left, center or justified. It is often taught to students in schools and required as part of the basic computer requirements for many office jobs. Today it is one of the most widely used word processors available for Macs and PCs. Over the past three decades, there have been a number of updates and additions to Microsoft Word. Extra features, such as tables, images and advanced formatting give users more options to customize their documents. It allows users to type and manipulate text in a graphic environment that resembles a page of paper. Microsoft Word is a word processing program that was first made public by Microsoft in the early 1980s.
