Description of Windows Word Processor

The latest incarnation of the Windows word processor is Microsoft Word 2010.

Computer word processors have revolutionized the world of document creation since their mainstream acceptance in the early days of the home computer boom. Microsoft was one of the first companies to offer a word processor that could be used on a home computer back in 1983, and the product has been changed and updated on a constant basis ever since. The latest incarnation of the Windows word processor is Microsoft Word 2010, which is a part of the extended suite of programs called Microsoft Office.

Word Processor

Microsoft Word is a word processor that allows users to create text documents using a personal computer. Letters and numbers are entered and arranged into documents using a computer keyboard, then the text can be altered by making it bold, italic and underlined. Text size can be made larger or smaller and can be aligned in numerous ways; multi-page documents can be created that flow from one page to another automatically. Documents can be printed to specifications once completed or converted into Portable Document Format (.pdf) for easy emailing or other such electronic means of transfer.

Text Editing

A word processor such as Microsoft Word allows users to manipulate text in the same way they would using a typewriter, only with more efficiency. Margins can be set by simply mouse-clicking on a slider and moving it from the left to the right along a ruler at the top of the document. Tabs can also be easily set in a similar fashion. Users can choose from a list of font styles and see examples of each to ease the decision-making process. Corrections can be made my simply highlighting a piece of text and either changing it, deleting it or copying and pasting it elsewhere within the document. Bullets and numbering can be added to lists automatically; blocks of text can be made into columns with the click of a mouse button.

Basic Tools

Numerous tools are available in Microsoft Word to assist users in creating documents that are clear and free of mistakes. The "Spelling and Grammar" tool scans a user document and highlights words that may be misspelled and phrases and sentences that may be grammatically incorrect. The "Word Count" tool tallies the amount of individual words in a document---which is handy for reports and articles that need a certain amount of words---and the "Hyphenation" tool automatically breaks long word into more manageable chunks with hyphens at the ends of lines. A handy "Help" feature can assist users in finding how to accomplish what they need.

Advanced Tools

Advanced users can accomplish many tasks automatically with Microsoft Word that would be time consuming otherwise. References and footnotes can be added to documents easily and formatted quickly, as can tables of contents, tables, charts and endnotes. References can be formatted according to predefined style guides such as APA, MLA and the Chicago Manual of Style. The "Equation Builder" tool assists users in creating mathematical equations and formulas within the text that can be edited and formatted automatically. Text styles and themes can be created that can be automatically used to format text and ensure continuity throughout a document.

Adding Photos and Graphics

Documents can be enlivened with the addition of graphics, photos, charts and graphs, and Microsoft Word seeks to simplify this process. Photos and graphics can be imported into the document and arranged within the text, with the blocks of words flowing automatically around the additions and maintaining their alignment and style. Graphical elements can be moved and resized within the document, and once a document is complete, it can be saved, printed, exported as a .pdf file or easily converted into a web page.

References

• Microsoft: Microsoft Office 2010

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Microsoft: Microsoft Office Training Courses