Word Tips

Microsoft Word is one of the most popular computer programs out there. Yet, many of us get frustrated at seemingly simple tasks that just aren't so simple. Here are ten of my favorite little tips to help make your computer experience more fulfilling.

1. Change the Font Style to open automatically with every new document - Open a new Word Document, Click Format, Font, and change the font to whatever you want. Then click the Default button in the bottom left-hand corner of the Font dialog box.

2. Return immediately to where you left off in a document - Open the document and pressing Shift-F5. This takes you to where you were when you last saved the document before closing it.

3. Paste Unformatted Text from the Web - Ever copy something and wish that it didn't come in with all of its original formatting? Next time, copy the text as you would normally, then in Word choose Edit, Paste Special; and double-click on Unformatted Text. You are now free to format it to your liking.

4. Find out what's happening to your spacing - Turn the paragraph marker and tab markers on by clicking the Show/All symbol (). This allows you to see blank spaces, tabs and controls that can interfere with formatting.

5. Create a blank line in between bullets and numbers with ease - Just press Shift-Enter to move to the next line without inserting a bullet or number. If you press Enter bullets or numbering will be resumed as you move to the next line.

6. Don't use spaces and tabs to position text on a page. Use the spacebar only to create spaces between words. Use the tab to indent the first line of a paragraph.

7. Use the format painter to copy formats. It's the little paint brush icon. Double click on it to get multiple format painting (click on it again to shut it off), or just click on it once to do a quick copy of formatting from one highlighted area to another.

8. Explore the Format Menu it allows you to add various kinds of page borders, shade paragraphs, add borders around text, and do other special effects - you'll be impressed by features such as Art in Page Border and Sparkling effect under Text Effect.

9. Insert a Date Quickly by positioning the cursor where you want to insert the date - Press ALT+SHIFT+D.

10. Create a More Precise Ruler - If you've ever wanted to move your margins to an exact location, hold down the ALT key while working the ruler.