How to Learn Microsoft Office Word

Microsoft Word is an easy-to-use word processing system with many additional applications.

Microsoft Office is a suite of applications which includes one of the most widely-used word processing programs in the world, Word. Word is a complex program with many hidden features that raise its utility far beyond mere word processing. In addition to written documents, Word can produce data tables, business cards and certificates of achievement. Online tutorials, eBooks and traditional books are available to help familiarize users with Word's accessories and potential.

Instructions

1. 

   Click on the question mark in the right hand corner, or use the F1 key, to bring up the Help menu in Word.

   Access Help in Word by pressing the "F1" button on your keyboard. Enter your subject or question into the Search box in the Help dialog or select an entry from the preselected topics. Topics available in the Help dialog include page numbering, margins and page set up, headers and footers, tables of content, document sharing and working in other languages.

2. 

   Word can be used to make calendars with decorative graphics.

   Learn how to use Word 2003, 2007 and 2010 through free tutorials available on the Microsoft site, in addition to tutorials for all of the programs in the Office suite. Using Microsoft Word tutorials, you'll learn to use features such as mail merge, decorative borders and backgrounds, tracking changes and advanced tables of content. Create a theme-based brochure using drop caps or create your own calendars. Creative projects and how-to articles are available on the Microsoft website.

3. 

   You can use keyboard shortcuts in Word, such as F1 for Help.

   Learn keyboarding shortcuts and the intricacies of Word's toolbar and menu via Internet4Classrooms' tutorials online (see Resources). The site also offers Macintosh-specific Word tutorials. Learn how to set up documents, use graphics in Word, use Word's drawing and font tools, modify text, make tables and print and save documents as Web pages via free online tutorials from Electric Teacher.

4. 

   There are eBooks, traditional books, online courses, and structured lessons available to learn Word.

   Download free ebooks about Word on Microsoft's website. Instructional books about Word are also available on the Microsoft website, in addition to classes in Word, along with learning plans and exams for teachers who are instructing students in the use of Word.

5. 

Tips & Warnings

• Explore the free templates for Word documents available from Microsoft. With these templates you can make resumes, fliers, business cards, labels, awards and newsletters.

References

• Microsoft Learning
• Microsoft: Education: How-to Articles from Microsoft
• Electric Teacher: Microsoft Word Tutorials
• Microsoft Learning: Training Catalog

Resources

• Microsoft Online Training
• Microsoft Office: Free Templates
• Microsoft Office: Ten Reasons To Try Microsoft 2010
• Internet4Classrooms: Word Tutorials and Information