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If you ’re completely new to Microsoft Word , you ’re believably wondering where to begin . You ’ve come to the right position because we ’ll get you started . From what you see in the Word window to how to pull through a document , this Word Tutorial for Beginners is for you .

Note : The information in this tutorial applies to Microsoft Word forMicrosoft 365on Windows . While you may see varying terms , tool emplacement , or available options , most Good Book versions have the same canonic features . Once you have whatever versionof Word you downloaded and install , you could jump out right on in .

Word document on a laptop on a table.

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How to create a new document

When you open up Microsoft Word , you could make a new empty document oruse a built - in guide . To best get familiar with the diligence and the features we excuse here , prize aBlankdocument on the Home screen and follow along !

How to name and save document files

One of the most important things to learn about using Microsoft Word is naming and store your documents . There ’s nothing worse than put hours of work into a document , only to find out youdidn’t save it before closing it .

A good habit to get going is to name and save the text file as presently as you begin . you could then continually save it with the same name as you work on it . Another choice is to use AutoSave , which is useable to Microsoft 365 contributor .

As you work on your papers , you could use theSavebutton in the Quick Access Toolbar at any point . Alternatively , selectFile > Save . This ensures you wo n’t lose your study .

If you ’re concerned about prying eyes viewing your document , you canpassword protect your Word documentfor security .

How to use AutoSave

You ’ll then see theAutoSavetoggle enabled as you wreak on your text file .

Get to know the interface

The next important view to learn about Microsoft Word is what you see in the lotion ’s windowpane .

title of respect bar : This is the Browning automatic rifle at the very top of the window . It contains the Quick Access Toolbar on the left field , which holds ready to hand buttons like Save and Undo , the document name , the Search feature of speech , and buttons to see the window .

tab : Below the claim bar is the chit course . You ’ll see tabs for Home , Insert , Draw , Design , Layout , and more . You spread out the tab key you need to perform a task using the tool on the ribbon .

One exclusion is the File tab on the far leave , which does n’t have a thread . or else , you ’ll see a sailing on the left over side that allows you to save , print , exportation , close , and reach the setting . you’re able to also use the right side on the File tab to make raw written document and open recent one .

medallion : Below the tab row is the ribbon that carry button and menus . When you open a tabloid , you ’ll see puppet in the laurel wreath for that particular tab . For instance , if you want to change your document ’s visual aspect , you ’d go to the excogitation lozenge and see cock for base , format , colors , and Sir Frederick Handley Page color .

Status bar : This is the bar at the bottom of the window . you could customise this area to show commonly require details like page number , indicators like ceiling lock , and options for soar . properly - click theStatus barto lend or remove items .

The center of the Word windowpane is the document workspace where you’re able to just begin type to create an essay , clause , report , résumé , and similar .

How to use the tabs and ribbon

As mentioned above , the decoration holds button and menus that reserve you execute actions . The ribbon is divided into sections , or groups , to help you find the tool you need .

The ribbon tool adjust depending on which tab you quality . So , when you open each tab , you ’ll see a different set of tools . Additionally , when you give a lozenge , it ’s selected and you ’ll see it emphasize

Because there are many tool on the typewriter ribbon for each pill , here are just some of the most usually used tabs and options .

Home tab

TheHometab ’s palm contains the most canonical actions you ’d execute when creating a text file . You have the Clipboard chemical group to replicate , cut , and paste ; the Font grouping for vogue , size , bluff , Italic , and color ; the Paragraph group for alignment , lists , spacing , and indents ( you may evendo hanging indents in Word documents ) ; and the Styles group with preformatted options such as statute title , subtitles , headings , quotation , and emphasis .

Insert tab

TheInserttab is where you go when you want to insert detail apart from text in your written document . You have the Illustrations group for pictures , shapes , icons , and charts ; the Media chemical group for picture and sound recording ; and the Header & Footer radical for adding these written document items .

You ’ll also see shaft to add a table , hyperlink , commentary , WordArt , equality , and symbols . you may also employ the Insert tab toadd Thomas Nelson Page numbers to your Word text file .

Draw tab

TheDrawtab lets you expend pens , marker , and highlighters todraw on your document . you’re able to also initialize the ground , change ink to a shape or mathematics , and apply the stencil . Or you could do something simpler , likeinserting a course into your Word written document .

Design tab

TheDesigntab give you ways to change the appearing or style of your written document . you may select from Themes , which provide color and fonts , and Document Formatting , which furnish social structure with claim and headings .

You also have Page Background tools foradding a watermark , changing the background colour , and apply page borders .

Layout tab

TheLayouttab lets you alter the structure of a document . You have the Page Setup grouping to adapt the margin , orientation , size , columns , and breaks ; the Paragraph group for indent and spacing options ( such asdouble spacing ) ;   and the Arrange mathematical group for wrapping text edition , aligning object , and moving point forward or backward .

References tab

TheReferencestab is where you go toadd a table of content , citations , a bibliography , captions , and a table of frame . you could evenadd footnotes in Microsoft Word . you’re able to also employ the Researcher creature and mark entries for things like an power and tabular array of authorities .

Mailings tab

TheMailingstab allow tool forsetting up a mail merge in Word . you could create letters , emails , label , envelopes , and a directory . All shaft on this check are for chain armor merge .

Review tab

TheReviewtab curb putz for spelling and grammar checking , accessibility checking , translating , and language . You ’ll also use this tab key if you collaborate with others on the document and want to track the change everyone make .

View tab

TheViewtab allow for you to switch from Print Layout to entanglement Layout to Outline or Draft view . you may also show or obliterate cock like the ruler and gridlines , zoom in and out , display multiple page at once ( useful for ascertain specific passages of text , or identifying apage you ask to delete ) , and stage Word windows if you have more than one open .

Temporary tabs

While you ’ll always see the above tabs in Word by default , you may also see a few irregular tabs display . These tabs appear when you choose ( penetrate ) an point in your document and disappear when you deselect the item .

For example , if you introduce a shape , you ’ll see theShape Formattab display , or if you introduce an effigy , you ’ll see thePicture Formattab show .

Each temporary chit provides you with ribbon tools specific to the point . Here , you could see we selected a shape that we inserted and theShape Formattab display on the right of the yellow journalism dustup . Tools on the thread allow us to initialize the shape and text edition inside it , as well coif and resize the chassis .

Now that you have the basics for using Microsoft Word , be sure to research the check and tool to see how they can help you create antic documents . When you ’re quick to move on , check out our other Word clause likethings you did n’t know you could do in Word , along withtricks that can supercharge your Word work flow .