A day learning MS Word properly could save you years of frustration!
Are you frustrated and taking hours to produce the long documents you need? Too many people are struggling with MS Word because they approach it as if it was a typewriter. So they do everything manually by typing and formatting everything they do. Microsoft Word is designed to be used with styles and templates and if you Learn Microsoft Word Properly and use other cool features, advanced MS Word features kick in. Word is not for the faint-hearted! You really need to understand how it works and what features you have to use for it to work well for you. Lawyers and engineers who draft a report and then hand it to a secretary to format and polish don’t realize how much work she or he will have if the document has been manually set up.
Why You Need Advanced MS Word Features
This blog deals with advanced MS Word features such as styles and templates, automatic table of contents, and sections. So you think you know MS Word well! Are you writing:
- Your master’s or doctoral thesis
- Studying at UNISA and emailing large assignments
- A book or manual
- Complex reports, contracts, and tenders where many people contribute to the final document
Efficient Document Formatting in Word
Training can change your life. While professional people have little time for days of training, a few hours of one-on-one training or a day for a group in the office boardroom could make all the difference. Beth Horner & Associates will come to your offices to do the training.
Utilizing MS Word Styles and Templates
Word is designed to be used with styles and templates. You use styles for long, complex documents. Actually, every time you open a new document and start typing, you are using a style – the Normal style. You will see a border around it in the Quick Styles Gallery. All the default settings such as font style, line numbering, and language are stored here.
The Quick Styles Gallery
What is a style? Styles are simply collections of formatting codes that are applied throughout your document. They ensure that your document has a consistent appearance no matter how long it is and how many headings you have. You will find the Quick Styles Gallery on the Home ribbon.
Why You Should Use Styles
The beauty of using a style is that it is so easy to use and to change. Say, for example, you have 100 headings in your document. You apply a style to format each one as you create the document. After looking at the document, you decide the headings will look better if they are one point size bigger. Because all your headings are formatted as styles, all you have to do is change the heading style.
Make one heading exactly the size you want. Select it. Right-click on the style in the Quick Styles Gallery on the Home ribbon. Click on Update [style name] to match selection. (These instructions apply to versions 2007 onwards.) Instantly, all 100 headings will change to match what you have selected. And you can do this as many times as you need to.
Automating Document Formatting in Word
Try using styles, it will make a difference. In the next blog, we will see how, by using Heading styles, Word will create a Table of Contents for you. MS Word tips for thesis writing, word formatting for legal documents, and MS Word training for professionals can help you master these advanced features.
Efficient document formatting in Word saves time and improves the quality of your work. Automating document formatting in Word and utilizing time-saving Word techniques will make your work much easier and more efficient.
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