How to Use a Drop Cap in Word 2003

By eHow Computers Editor

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Use a drop cap in Word 2003 to add eye-catching, professional flare to your documents. A drop cap is an extra-large capital letter at the beginning of a paragraph. Word 2003 lets you create drop caps without complex formatting.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

  • Word 2003
  • Computer
Step1
Type a paragraph in Microsoft Word 2003.
Step2
Position the cursor somewhere inside the paragraph you want to begin with a drop cap.
Step3
Click the "Format" menu.
Step4
Choose “Drop Cap.”
Step5
Select “Dropped.” This will embed the first letter in the paragraph, so the text wraps around it.
Step6
Select “In Margin.” This puts the first letter in the margin, so the text appears beside the dropped cap.
Step7
Choose a font for the dropped cap only. By default, it will resemble the rest of the text.
Step8
Choose the number of lines dropped. This affects how large the letter will be.
Step9
Choose the distance between the dropped cap and the text.
Step10
Click "OK."

Tips & Warnings

  • For best results, keep the number of lines dropped to about four or one-quarter of the number of lines the paragraph contains.
  • Keep dropped caps smaller if you use them several times on the same page.
  • Make sure you're satisfied with the appearance of the dropped cap. A dropped cap can look strange leading off a short paragraph.

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eHow Article: How to Use a Drop Cap in Word 2003

eHow Computers Editor

eHow Computers Editor

Category: Computers

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