A quick guide to word processing

A quick guide to word processing

If you are studying a Cengage Education course, chances are you have to use a word processing computer program to complete your assessments. For anyone not confident with these types of programs, this article will outline various basic word processing functions with step-by-step instructions on how to layout pages and set paragraph styles. Because Microsoft® Word is the most widely used word processing program, it will be used for these examples. You should find however that most other word processing programs work in a similar way.

How to start a new page

When you want to start a new page (for example a new chapter in a document) but are still only part way down the existing page, don't just keep tapping the 'Enter' key. This makes it harder for the editor to format the work later on.

  1. Select Insert from the top menu bar.
  2. Click on Break.
  3. When the pop-up box appears you can choose what kind of break you want. In this case click Page.

* Alternatively press and hold the Ctrl key and press Enter. This will also start a new page.

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The undo arrow

If you make a mistake while editing and lose information from your document that you need, simply click on the little blue curved arrow at the top of the screen. The arrow that curves to the left is the Undo arrow. You can click this arrow as many times as you need to undo the mistake.

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Laying out paragraphs

Do not indent each paragraph. Manuscripts need to have an indent in the first line of each paragraph in accordance with standard publishing practice. Before you start typing, set up your paragraphs using the following method:

  1. Select Format from the menu bar at the top of the screen.
  2. When the drop down menu appears, click on the Paragraph option.
  3. A pop-up text box will appear. Look for the word Indentation you will see the Special option (it will probably say none).
  4. Click the arrow beside the box and a menu will drop down.
  5. Click on the First line option, this means that only the first line of each paragraph will be indented.
  6. In the section below where you see the words Before and After, make sure both are set to zero.
  7. Click OK.

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How to double-space your work

  1. Type your text in normal single spacing.
  2. Select Edit from the menu bar at the top of the screen.
  3. When the drop down menu appears, click the Select all option (this will highlight all the text in the document).
  4. Select Format from the menu bar at the top of the screen.
  5. When the drop down me