Microsoft Word: Features and Uses

Microsoft Word Overview

• Microsoft Word is a word processing program used to create, format, save, and print various types of documents.
• It can be offered as a cloud service or as software that users can install on a PC or mobile device.
• It is an integral part of the Microsoft Office suite of products and is the most widely-used word processor in the world.
• It is estimated that Word is running on more than a billion devices worldwide.

Features of Microsoft Word

• Create a document from scratch or from a template.
• Add text, images, art, and videos.
• Research a topic and find credible sources.
• Access documents from a computer, tablet, or phone via OneDrive.
• Share documents and collaborate with others.
• Track and review changes.

Brief History of MS Word

• The first version of Microsoft Word, Word 1.0, was launched in October 1983.
• It was developed by former Xerox programmers, Charles Simonyi and Richard Brodie.
• Version 2.0 was released in 1985, with added features including spellcheck and word count.
• In 1993, Microsoft released Word 6.0, which worked on Macintosh, Windows, and DOS.
• The most recent release was October 5th, 2021, with Word 2021, part of Office 365.

Starting Up Microsoft Word

• Find the application that says "Microsoft Word" without a file name on the desktop to open a new blank document.
• Alternatively, search for "Microsoft Word" in the Windows tab to open the application.

Different Parts and Functions of Microsoft Word

• Quick Access Toolbar: allows users to save, undo, and redo files in one click.
• Title Bar: displays saved files for easy identification.
• Ribbon Tabs: provide important functions for encoders.
• Ribbon: alters several features of the text, including font style, font size, text alignment, and color.
• Category Groups: label below the ribbon, providing features such as Clipboard, Font, Paragraph, and Styles.
• Scroll Bar: navigates the workspace.
• Workspace: where all data is encoded.
• Ruler: manually adjusts the margin of the document.
• Status Bar: displays the number of words, pages, and language denomination.
• Document View Button: displays content, rulers, gridlines, and zooms.