File, New

You do not have to type and format each new document from scratch. You can save time by using one of the supplied templates for common documents such as letters and memos.

To see the templates available to use, select FILE, NEW. The screen above will appear showing different types of predesigned letter formats.

A blinking vertical bar "|" called the insertion point indicates where text will appear when you type. Unlike using a typewriter, you do not have to start a new line when you reach the right margin -- Word automatically wraps text to the next line. You press ENTER only when you want to start a new paragraph. You can delete characters to either the left or right of the insertion point.

Most of your documents will contain more text than you can see at one time. To view parts of a document that you cannot see, use the mouse or the keyboard to scroll through the document.

You can display scroll bars along the right and bottom edges of document windows, which you can use to move through a document quickly.

Word provides templates for several common types of documents, such as memos, reports, and business letters. You can use these templates just as they are, modify them, or create your own.

Word automatically bases new documents on the "Blank Document" template unless you specify another template. The Blank Document template is a general, all-purpose template for any document.

To start a new document from a template:

1. From the File menu, choose New.
2. Under New, select the Document option button.
3. In the Template box, do one of the following:

Word gives the new document a temporary name, such as Document2, until you save it with a unique filename.

You can change templates just as you would any other Word document. The only difference is one additional stop you must take when saving your work.

1. Use FILE, NEW to open the template to be changed.
1. Make the changes, such as adding your logo and other embellishments.
1. Print out a sample and check your work.
1. When satisfied, choose FILE, SAVE AS.
1. Type the exact same file name as the old template if you want to replace the old template, or type a new file name if you want to keep both the old and new. Make sure to type the extension .DOT if you choose a new filename.

1. Select an item and press Backspace or Delete.
1. You can also choose Edit, Cut.
1. To delete a character before the insertion point, press Backspace.
1. To delete a character after the insertion point, press Delete.
1. To delete a word before the insertion point, press Ctrl+Backspace.
1. To delete a word after the insertion point, press Ctrl+Delete.

1. To restore immediately after deleting them, click the Undo button on the Standard Toolbar.
1. You can also choose Edit, Undo.
1. To undo multiple actions, click the down arrow next to the Undo button on the standard toolbar, then drag to select the actions you want to undo.

If you undo an action you decide was correct after all, you can reverse the Undo action by clicking the Redo button.

To change the capitalization of text:

1. Select the text to be changed.
1. From the Format menu, choose Change Case.
1. Choose from the options provided, then choose the OK button.

You can also change the capitalization of text by using the keyboard.

Select the text. Press Shift+F3 until the text has the capitalization you want.

TOOLS, SPELLING AND GRAMMAR

Once suggestions have been made to improve the grammar, you will see statistics relating to this document.

These statistics include:

Counts - number of words, characters, paragraphs, and sentences.

Averages - Average number of sentences per paragraph, words per sentence and characters per word.

Readability - the percentage of sentences written in passive voice, as well as other readability indexes.

Flesch Reading Ease - computes readability based on the average number of syllables per word and the average number of words per sentence. The higher the score (0-100), the greater the number of people who can readily understand the document.

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level - computes readability based on average number of syllables per word and the average number of words per sentence. The score in this case indicates a grade-school level.

TOOLS, AUTOCORRECT

AutoCorrect moves into action every time you press the spacebar, the Tab key, or the Enter key after entering a letter or a word. If the previous word is stored as an AutoCorrect entry, AutoCorrect changes it; if it is not stored as an AutoCorrect entry, nothing happens.

It can also cause confusion if you don’t realize the settings will catch and correct such things as catching two initial caps, capitalizing the first word of a sentence, and replacing words as you type that have been set up in auto correct.

This functionality was called "glossary entries" in previous versions of MS Word. These entries can name themselves and be accessed through the toolbar for even greater speed and accuracy.

When ready to use, type the name of the autotext item. The information should appear as a comment box for you to select. If not, press F3.

For example, when referring to our university, we typically have to describe where we are in relation to Dallas. So an Autotext item could be the following paragraph:

The University of North Texas is located 35 miles north of the Dallas metroplex on Interstate 35.

Select this paragraph, and then select Tools, AutoCorrect, AUTOTEXT. Change the name from "The University" which is the default name, to UNT, and select ADD.

Now, in your document type UNT., and press F3. The paragraph will replace UNT. A graphic can even be a part of the item.

TOOLS,

LANGUAGE, THESAURUS

The Meanings section of the dialog box lists available meanings and parts of speech for the selected word.

Pick the meaning of interest, and you’ll see a corresponding list of synonyms in the box to the right of the Meanings list.

1. Clicking on the word places it in the Replace with box.
2. If you click the Replace button at this point, the new word will replace the selected one in your document.
3. To look for other words instead, click the Look Up button for additional choices.
4. Clicking the cancel button closes the Thesaurus without changing your selected word.