The Hermit Hermit's Free Library  MS-Word

The index to articles on MS-Word.

MS-Word Index

MS-Word 2007/2010

Making Documents Communicate Discussion of methods for organizing and formatting information that facilitate communication. Topics include contrast, repetition, indentation and alignment, proximity, consistency, and the role played by changing word processing technology.

MS-Word User-Interface Covers the MS-Word user interface in versions 2007/2010/2013. Coverage includes descriptions of the principal document views, the Ribbon, the Quick Access Toolbar, the Mini Toolbar, Zoom, Task Panes, Show/Hide formatting symbols, and Keyboard shortcuts.

Scrolling and Positioning the Insertion Point Presents some of the finer points in using the keyboard and the mouse to scroll documents and position the insertion point.

Selecting Text The most efficient techniques for selecting text using both keyboard and mouse.

Moving Text in Documents Describes efficient alternatives to Copy and Paste and Cut and Paste to move text around in documents.

Typeface Concepts Defines the term typeface and explains the difference between serif and sans serif typefaces and proportionately and non- proportionately spaced typefaces. It also explains how differences in size, weight, and style account for different fonts of the same typeface.

Undo, Redo, Repeat Describes the Undo, Redo, and Repeat actions and gives examples of how they can be used effectively.

Margins, Word-Wrap, and Paragraph Spacing Discusson of margins, word-wrap, and spacing before, after, and inside paragraphs. It distinguishes between lines and paragraphs, and dynamic and manual line breaks. It shows how to use Space After as part of a Style and how manual line breaks can be used to modify Space After in lists and mailing addresses.

Alignments, Indentations, and Tabs Coverage of horizontal paragraph alignments, vertical page alignments, paragraph indentation options, and the use of tabs to align decimal numbers.

Bulleted and Numbered Lists Distinguishes between ordered and unordered lists and gives two methods that can be used to create them (Ribbon tool and AutoCorrect). Also explains how to format list items automatically using AutoCorrect and how manual line breaks can be used to control the line length of list items.

Graphics Discusses the types of graphics which can be incorporated into an MS-Word document and describes some of their available options.

Making Tables Sing and Dance Explains how tables can be used not only to present information but also to a) arrange graphics and text in sophisticated layouts, and b) manipulate and transform information by converting it between lists and tables and tables and lists. It also covers the many formatting options available for tables and gives simple methods for re-arranging both table structure and table contents.

How to Transpose MS-Word Table Columns Using Drag-and-Drop Step-by-step instructions on how to transpose MS-Word table columns using drag-and-drop.

Sorting an MS-Word Table Step-by-step instructions on how to sort an MS-Word Table.

AutoCorrect Describes MS-Word's AutoCorrect feature and gives instructions to create an AutoCorrect entry that expands acronyms.

Find and Find and Replace Describes "Find" (Search) and "Find and Replace" in MS-Word and gives suggestions how they can be used.

Direct Formatting Defines direct formatting and describes the many problems associated with using it as opposed to formatting using Styles.

The Format Painter Explains how to use the Format Painter in single-use and multiple application modes and discusses why formatting with styles is superior to using the Format Painter.

Formatting with Styles Discussion of MS-Word styles and their benefits. Explains how to apply styles, modify them, and create new styles. Describes how to use styles and templates to change the default typeface and other formats. Includes a link to an exercise which covers all aspects of working with styles and explains how to set up Word options to make styles work smoothly.

Document Templates Defines the concept of templates and explains how and why they are used. Explains how to create custom templates, modify templates, set up a folder for user-generated templates, and manage Styles between templates.

MS-Office Themes Describes MS-Office themes and points out a few of their advantages and shortcomings.

Longer Documents Discussion of considerations for longer documents, including page breaks, footnotes and endnotes, sections, headers and footers, and blank pages and orphans.

Add Send to Powerpoint to MS-Word's QAT Explains how to add to MS_Word's Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) any of the many commands which don't appear on the Ribbon. The example used is "Send to MS-Powerpoint", but the method is identical for any other command. Works for MS-Word version 2007 and beyond.

Spicing up Titles and Text in MS-Word Explains how to use text effects available in MS-Word 2007 and up in order to add more interest to titles and text in documents such as brochures and posters.

Extracting an Outline in MS-Word headings Describes a simple method to obtain an outline without sub-text from an MS-Word document which is formatted using Word's built-in heading styles.

Works Cited Defines direct formatting and describes problems associated with using it as opposed to formatting using Styles.

MS-Word 2003 and Earlier

Recovering Corrupted Documents: MS-Word This article explains how text from a corrupted document in MS-Word may be recovered in versions prior to MS-Word 2007.

Fixing MS-Word Annoyances How to use the MS-Word Options menu to eliminate annoying Word features and make Word work the way you want.