How to Create an Outline in Microsoft Word

You can use the outline view in Microsoft Word to create an outline of a document. This is a great way to structure your document or create a document that will later be turned into a PowerPoint presentation.

Things You'll Need

• Microsoft Word 2003

Instructions

1. Start Microsoft Word and create a new document.

2. Choose the "View" menu and click "Outline" to switch to outline view. Notice that you when you switch to outline view, you have an "Outlining" toolbar at the top of your Word document.

3. Type your first heading by the first square bullet. Press the "Enter" key when you are finished to move to the second heading in your outline.

4. Convert a heading into a subheading by clicking the "Demote" button on the Outlining toolbar while your cursor is in the phrase or sentence you want to make into a subheading.

5. Demote part of your outline to body text by pressing the "Demote to Body Text" on the Outlining toolbar while keeping the cursor in the part of the outline you want to demote.

6. Turn a subheading into a heading by placing the cursor in that subheading and clicking the "Promote" or "Promote to Heading 1" button on the Outlining toolbar.

Tips & Warnings

• You can move sections of your outline to a different location by using the "Move Up" or "Move Down" buttons on the Outlining toolbar.

• Choose the Format menu and click on "Styles and Formatting" to make formatting changes to any of the styles in your outline.