Microsoft Word Basics
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Write & Edit
Microsoft Word allows you to create text documents that can be saved electronically, printed on paper, or saved as PDF files. Each document in Microsoft Word is essentially a new file; each one can be several pages long. Microsoft Word is one of the most used programs in the world, so knowing how to use it efficiently is important for just about any job you want to perform. Whether you are a student, a business professional, or stay-at-home mom, chances are that you will use MS Word for one reason or another on a daily basis.
Practice Activity 1:
Click on the image to the right and read through "Write and Edit". Then open a Word document. Change the file name to "Word Activity 1". Type a paragraph that is at least 5 sentences long that introduces you to someone you have never met before. Include the name of your school, Mountain View Elementary. When you are finished, add a hyperlink to the name of your school in your paragraph which will take your reader to our school website. Save your document to OneDrive. |
Format Text
The toolbar at the top of your page is your friend when it comes to all things formatting. With a click of a button on the toolbar, you can change font styles, sizes, colors as well as bold, italicize, and underline text; you can create numbered or bulleted lists as well as choose how you want to space lines on the page (single or double-spaced, etc.). Make sure to meet the expectations of your teacher when choosing formatting for specific assignments.
Layout Pages
In Word you can customize your page in many ways. You can set your own margins if you don't want to use the predefined settings. You can insert a page break to ensure that specific content will always start at the top of a new page (for example, if you are writing a play with multiple acts you might want each one to start on its own page). Creating columns can be useful for writing articles and pamphlets; Word allows you to choose two or three columns or customize your own number. Inserting a header and/or a footer that appears on every page of your document can be helpful for things like your name, a title, or a page number.
Pictures & Tables
When writing articles, stories, or poetry, you may want to insert a pictures or icons. These items can easily be manipulated (resized, moved, etc.) once added to the page. Word also allows you to insert a table in your writing as well which may come in handy at times. You can select how many rows and columns you need and can easily customize the alignment of text within each cell as well as the width and height.
Save & Print
Once you have created a document, make sure to save it to a location where you can find it again later. Using OneDrive will allow you to access your work at home as well as at school. "Save" will save your document under its current name and "Save As" allows you to rename it. You can save it as a document file or a PDF. When printing, you need to know how to select the correct printer you are printing to.
Share & Co-author
Office 365 offers you great opportunities to collaborate with other students in real-time. Check out these skills that will allow you share and co-author your work.