Microsoft Word Tricks

Alphabetizing a List – When you create a bulleted or numbered list, Word can alphabetize them quickly. 

2003 and earlier click Table – Sort – ascending
2007 click Home Tab –  icon(Paragraph Dialogue Box) – ascending

 

Basic Shortcuts – Cut (Ctrl+X ) Copy (Ctrl+C) Paste (Ctrl-V) Undo (Ctrl+Z)

 

Create a customized bulleted list with happy faces or check marks as the bullet. You will need to create a list first then do the following:
2003 Users click Format – Bullets and Numbering – Customize – A new window will pop up – Choose Character – Choose Wingdings or Symbols – Select a Character – OK - OK
2007 Users click Home Tab – Drop drown next to the bullet icon – Define new bullet –Symbol – Selected a Character – Ok – Ok.

 

Creating a Hyperlink – As an alternative to pasting an entire website address (URL) do the following. Type the title of the website – highlight the title – Click Ctrl-K.

 

Determining Word Count – Microsoft Word will do a word count quickly for you and your students.
2003 Users - select the text you want to count - Tools – Word Count
2008 Users – select the text you want to count – look at the bottom right of your screen – word count is automatically calculated.

Dictionary/Thesaurus Shortcut – Hold the Alt key down and click on any word, the Reference Toolbar opens and gives the definition of the word as well as synonyms.

 

Double and Single Spacing Shortcuts – CTRL+2 turns on double spacing for the document where CTRL+1 reverts to single spacing

 

Hanging Paragraphs – A paper can be set up to automatically indent the first line of any paragraph.
2003 and earlier click Format – Paragraph – Special – Hanging.
2007 click Page Layout tab - Paragraph Dialog Box Launcher– Special – Hanging.

 

Highlighting the Easy Way – Double click on any word and it will highlight. Triple click will highlight an entire paragraph. CTRL+A will highlight the entire paper.

 

Insert special characters such as the copyright symbol ©or the degrees ° symbol. .
2003 click Insert – Symbol – a new window will pop up and double click any symbol.
2007 click Insert Tab – Symbol – select one of the suggested symbols or choose More Symbols. Double click on any symbol.

 

Instant Auto Correct – If you find a word that is underlined in red, it’s misspelled. Simply right click on the word and Microsoft Word will provide suggested spellings.