How Do I Use Microsoft Word?  

Getting started

1.  Click Start, and then point to Programs.

2.  If necessary scroll down until you see Microsoft Word.

3.  Click on Microsoft Word to open the program.

4. If necessary maximize the window that Word opens by clicking the middle button in the upper right corner.

5.You can also place a Word icon on your desktop for faster access. 

The Pull Down Menus

1.                  On the top of the screen you should see the words:  File, Edit, View, Insert, Format, Tools, Table, Window, Help.  These are the pull down menu options.

2.                  Click on the word File to access the File pull down menu.  To expand the menu click on the double arrows at the bottom of the menu.  This is the menu you can use to (among other things) Open, Save, Save As and Print.  The ALT key and the cursor arrows can also open the pull down menus.  To close them use the ALT key again.                  

The Tool Bar

1.                  This has more options to open, save, print, etc.  You can click the little icons instead of using the pull down menus.

2.                  The Formatting tool bar section allows you to change fonts and font sizes, make text bold, italicized, underlined or right, left, center justified, among other things. 

Creating, Saving & Opening Word Documents

1.                  To save a document you have just created click on the file pull down menu and click Save or click the little floppy disk icon on the tool bar.

2.                  A little window will pop up giving you several options.  The most important of these are as follows

3.                  At the top is the “Save in” option.  This tells your computer where to save the document file.

4.                  At the bottom is the “File name” option.  This assigns the document file a name.

5.                  Below the file name option is the “Save as type” option.  This can be used to change the extension of the file currently being saved.  This option will be more useful later when opening different types of files and placing them in the same folder.

6.                  If you have already saved a document at least once, you can save it to a different location or give it a different name by using the file pull down menu, then click on Save As.  You will now get a chance to save the file in a different location or with a different name.

7.                  Remember, the first time you save a new file in just about every Windows program (i.e.: Word, Excel, Publisher, etc.) you will be prompted to name it.  Thereafter, when it is saved it will overwrite the old version of the file with the newer one.  If you want to keep the old version and save a newer version with changes use the Save As command listed under the file pull down menu.

8.                  After you type some text you can change its appearance in many ways.  You can always change it back by using the undo command in the edit pull down menu.

9.                  Highlighting text for changing its appearance can be done two different ways.  You should become familiar with both ways, as they are each useful in different contexts.

10.              Highlighting can be done by moving the cursor over the text you want to change while holding down the left mouse button.  It can also be done by placing the cursor in front of the text, holding down the SHIFT key and using the cursor arrow keys, HOME key or END key.

11.              Once a section of text is highlighted it can be moved or copied and pasted elsewhere (even in a different document or program).  It can be deleted or altered by using the font listing or font size on the toolbar, the bold command, or the justification commands.

Back To Computer/Network Help Topics
Back To Bethel Library Home Page
Back To Bethel College Home Page