Microsoft Word: What you need to know

for Research and Writing

Microsoft Word

Both Word for Windows PC and Word for Apple-Mac

platforms

Why is this important?

Your respective Faculty want to focus on teaching legal research and writing skills and not use class time teaching features of Word.

Your Research and Writing Faculty would like you to learn and apply the following for formatting a document:

Adjusting font and point size

Setting indentation (of headings)

Setting margins• for the document• for quotations or parts of the

document

Turning off superscript (e.g. 4th 5th 6th ) Using Spell and Grammar Check

• how to turn off auto correct• for numbers• enable for ALL CAPS

Adjusting line spacing • set for 24pts exactly

Insertion of nonbreaking or "hard" spaces

Insertion of symbols ¶ § ©

Insertion of page numbers (starting with Page 2)

Insertion of page break

Creation of tables of content

How to Set Font Type

1. Click the Home Tab on the ribbon

2. In the Font group you will see a drop down menu for the font types

3. Font types are listed alphabetically

4. Word offers a Recently Used Fonts section at the top of the listing

How to Set Font Size

1. Click the Home Tab on the ribbon

2. In the Font group you will see a drop down menu for the font sizes

3. Font size can be selected from the listing or a specific size can be typed in at the top

Mac: How to Set Font Type and Size

Under the home menu select font type and size or set under Font tab in the top menu

Setting Indentation (of Headings)1. Indentation: First Line in a paragraph or heading Indent 2. Click View Ruler Icon at the top of the vertical scroll bar

Ruler Icon

Creating a First-Line Indent with the Ruler Click at the beginning of the text to which you want to add a tab. On the Ruler, drag the First Line Indent marker (the top triangle located on the left side of the ruler) to the position where you want the text to start.

Mac: Creating a First-Line Indent with the Ruler

Paragraph Indentation• Indent a long quotation or paragraph by using the “increase indent button” • Place cursor in front of the first word of a paragraph and use the indent button

to incrementally move the paragraph to the desired location.

increase indent button

Mac: Paragraph Indentation

How to Set Margins - Document1. Click the Page Layout Tab on the ribbon

2. Click on Margins

3. There are a variety of options to choose from. If your professor requests a unique margin setting then choose the Custom Margins option at the bottom of the drop down menu

How to Set Margins – Within Document1.Highlight the text you want to indent2.Click the Page Layout Tab on the ribbon3.Click on Margins4.Choose the Custom Margins option at the bottom of the drop down menu and specify the dimensions necessary

Mac: How to Set Margins-Within Document

How to Turn off Superscript (4th, 5th, 6th)1. Click the File Tab on the ribbon

2. Select Options, then Proofing in the pop up window

3. Click the Auto Correct Options button

4. On the AutoFormat Tab, uncheck the Ordinals with superscript and click OK

Mac: How to Turn off Superscript (4th, 5th, 6th)

Insertion of Page Numbers

Starting with page 2

Mac: Insertion of Page Numbers

Select insert page number under the inset tab in the menu bar, or under document elements select “page #” in the document menu

Managing Spell and Grammar Check

• Remember to reproof a document manually, avoid complete reliance on spelling and grammar check.

How to manage AutoCorrect and other proofing options (uppercase and numbers)

Enable or disable spell check and grammar features

Enable (disable) for ALL CAPS or numbers

Mac: Manage AutoCorrect

How to Adjust Line Spacing

1. Right Click in the Blank Document

2. Select the Paragraph Option

3. Under the Line Spacing choose ‘Exactly’

4. Next choose the specific spacing (such as 24 pt) or type in the spacing number requested by your faculty member

Mac: How to Adjust Line Spacing

Insertion of nonbreaking or "hard" spaces

• Nonbreaking spaces are used to keep two words together avoiding separation by lines.– Hold down the Ctrl and Shift keys as you press the

Spacebar. Word will not break the line at the point between selected words.

– The same method works for Mac

How to Insert symbols ¶ § ©1. Click the Insert Tab on the ribbon

2. Click on Symbol on the far right

3. If you don’t see the symbol in the quick view window, click on the ‘More Symbols’ option at the bottom of the drop down

4. A shortcut key can be assigned to the symbols for easy insertion later to avoid searching for it in the symbols menu. Click on the Shortcut Key at the bottom of the Symbol window. For example, you could assign Alt-P for the paragraph symbol

Mac: How to Insert symbols ¶ § ©

Insertion of Page Breaks

Under the “insert tab” select “page break”

Place curser at the locationdesired for the page break

Mac: Insertion of Page Breaks

Place curser at the locationdesired for the page break

Select page break under the layouttab or page break from theinset tab on the top menu bar

Creation of Tables of Content

Insert page numbers

Select header style and each heading to be listed in the table of contents

Building a Table of Contents

Select location of table

Select table of contents button and style

Complete Table

Mac: Creation of Tables of Content

Download (Word) Office

Windows Apple