#USE MICROSOFT WORD HOW TO#

Google Docs files can be downloaded in some of the same formats as Word documents, but they excel at immediately publishing documents as webpages. While both Word and Docs are compatible with the most commonly used word processing formats like Word, PDF, and rich text, Word can import its files much more quickly and is much better at displaying complex file formats consistently across different programs of the Microsoft family. Word’s advanced features also include better incorporation of images and graphics, more exceptional options over text styles, easy addition of footnotes and citations, and better table controls and formats. Most of the essential editing tools are available in Google Docs, but users who are used to Word will find it limited.įrom the primary placement of images to advanced techniques like macros and mail merge, Word is the breakaway winner for more technical writing. From relatively humble beginnings in the 1980s, Microsoft has added new tools and options in each successive version. To put it lightly, Microsoft Word has an incredible advantage over Google Docs in terms of raw technical capability. How does each word processing program compare? Will Google Docs’ low barrier to entry and cross-platform functionality win out? Let’s break down each word processor in terms of features and capabilities to help you determine which is best for your needs. However, Google Docs still has a long way to go before it can match all of Word’s features - Microsoft has been developing its word processor for over 30 years, after all. The company’s Google Docs solution (or to be specific, the integrated word processor) is cross-platform and interoperable, automatically syncs, is easily shareable, and perhaps best of all, is free. That’s finally starting to shift, and it looks like one of Google’s productivity apps is the heir apparent. Fitbit Versa 3įor the last few decades, Microsoft Word has been the de facto standard for word processors across the working world. For more information about standard university formatting guidelines, see our article ‘ How should I format my university essay’. It isn’t necessary and doesn’t follow standard university formatting guidelines. Formattingĭon’t use any fancy formatting for headings or cover pages, especially nothing that uses a coloured font, borders or underlining. This way you will know your total word count, not including your references. Untick the box to ‘Include textboxes, footnotes and endnotes’. To check your word count, highlight the text you want to check (your essay not including your bibliography or reference list), then go to ‘Review’ and click on ‘Word Count’ in the ‘Proofing’ group.

#USE MICROSOFT WORD HOW TO#

It is best to set your language again at the very end by selecting all your text and then setting the language immediately before doing the spell check (because sometimes Word will ‘automatically detect’ your language and change it back to American while you are writing your essay).įor more information about using Word to proofread your document, see our articles ‘ How to Use MS Word for Proofreading’ and ‘ Grammar & more-Understanding Your Grammar Checker Options’. This will help you to pick up some (but not all) American spellings that should be corrected to Australian when doing your spell check. Here, you can change the language that the Spelling & Grammar checker will use to ‘English (Australia)’. Select the drop-down menu under ‘Language’ and click on ‘Set Proofing Language’. Go to the ‘Review’ tab and then the ‘Language’ group. Doing it any other way will result in footnotes that aren’t linked or formatted correctly. Insert a footnote by going to the ‘References’ tab and then selecting ‘Insert Footnote’. Using the Enter key will often result in the new page not beginning where you want it to if any other changes are made to the document later. Insert a page break by pressing Ctrl + Enter (or go to the ‘Insert’ tab and select ‘Page break’) rather than using the space bar to do it. Indent paragraphs by going to the ‘Home’ tab then the ‘Paragraph’ menu (not by using the space bar or tab key). Knowing these shortcuts and tips will make your formatting neater and your overall presentation more professional, and save you time! Indentation The purpose of this article is to provide some guidance for undergraduates-particularly for first-year students-who aren’t familiar with the different functions of Microsoft Word that they can use for writing their essays at uni. Tips for Using Microsoft Word to Write Essays

Use microsoft word