Basic tasks in Word - Microsoft Support (2024)

Word 2016 is designed to help you create professional-quality documents. Word can also help you organize and write documents more efficiently.

When you create a document in Word, you can choose to start from a blank document or let a template do much of the work for you. From then on, the basic steps in creating and sharing documents are the same. And Word's powerful editing and reviewing tools can help you work with others to make your document great.

Tip:To learn about new features, see What's new in Word 2016.

Start a document

It’s often easier to create a new document using a template instead of starting with a blank page. Word templates come ready-to-use with pre-set themes and styles. All you need to do is add your content.

Each time you start Word, you can choose a template from the gallery, click a category to see more templates, or search for more templates online.

For a closer look at any template, click it to open a large preview.

If you’d rather not use a template, click Blank document.

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Open a document

Every time you start Word, you’ll see a list of your most recently used documents in the left column. If the document you’re looking for isn’t there, click Open Other Documents.

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If you’re already in Word, click File > Open and then browse to the file’s location.

When you open a document that was created in earlier versions of Word, you see Compatibility Mode in the title bar of the document window. You can work in compatibility more or you can upgrade the document to use Word 2016.

Save a document

To save a document for the first time, do the following:

  1. On the File tab, click Save As.

  2. Browse to the location where you’d like to save your document.

    Note:To save the document on your computer, choose a folder under This PC or click Browse. To save your document online, choose an online location under Save As or click Add a Place. When your files are online, you can share, give feedback and work together on them in real time.

  3. Click Save.

    Note:Word automatically saves files in the .docx file format. To save your document in a format other than .docx, click the Save as type list, and then select the file format that you want.

To save your document as you continue to work on it, click Save in the Quick Access Toolbar.

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Read documents

Open your document in Read Mode to hide most of the buttons and tools so you can get absorbed in your reading without distractions.

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  1. Open the document you want to read.

    Note:Some documents open in Read Mode automatically, such as protected documents or attachments.

  2. Click View > Read Mode.

  3. To move from page to page in a document, do one of the following:

    • Click the arrows on the left and right sides of the pages.

    • Press page down and page up or the spacebar and backspace on the keyboard. You can also use the arrow keys or the scroll wheel on your mouse.

    • If you’re on a touch device, swipe left or right with your finger.

      Tip:Click View > Edit Document to edit the document again.

Track changes

When you’re working on a document with other people or editing a document yourself, turn on Track Changes to see every change. Word marks all additions, deletions, moves, and formatting changes.

  1. Open the document to be reviewed.

  2. Click Review and then on the Track Changes button, select Track Changes.

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Read Track changes to learn more.

Print your document

All in one place, you can see how your document will look when printed, set your print options, and print the file.

  1. On the File tab, click Print.

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  2. Do the following:

    • Under Print, in the Copies box, enter the number of copies you want.

    • Under Printer, make sure the printer you want is selected.

    • Under Settings, the default print settings for your printer are selected for you. If you want to change a setting, just click the setting you want to change and then select a new setting.

  3. When you’re satisfied with the settings, click Print.

For details, see Print a document.

Beyond the basics

For more on the fundamentals of using Word, see What's new in Word 2016.

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With Word for the web, you use your web browser to create, view, and edit the personal documents that you store on OneDrive. If your organization or college has aMicrosoft 365 plan or SharePoint site, start using Word for the web by creating or storing documents in libraries on your site.Save changes

Word saves your changes automatically. Look on the status bar at the bottom left corner of Word for the web. It will either show Saved or Saving.

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Share documents online

Because your document is online, you can share it by sending a link instead of an email attachment. People can read it in their web browser or mobile device.

Click File > Share > Share with People.

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Comment in the browser

A comment balloon shows where comments have been made in the doc.

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Reply to comments, and check off items you’ve addressed.

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Edit in the browser

If you try to type in the document and nothing happens, you’re probably in Reading view. Switch to Editing view: click Edit Document > Edit in Word for the web.

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Type and format text, add pictures, adjust the layout of the page, and more. For more advanced editing, click Open in Word.

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Work together on the same doc

To work together in Word for the web, you edit a document as you normally would. If others are also editing it, Word for the web alerts you to their presence. You can see everyone who is currently working in the document by clicking in the ribbon.

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Clicking on an author’s name jumps you to where they’re working in the doc. And you’ll see the changes they make as they’re happening.

Add a header or footer

Go to Insert > Header & Footer to add headers and footers to your document.

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Click Options to choose how you’d like them to appear.

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Add page numbers

Click Insert > Page Numbers and then choose from the gallery where you’d like the page numbers to appear.

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Select Include Page Count to show the current page number along with the total number of pages (page X of Y).

Find and replace text

Quickly search for every occurrence of a specific word or phrase in your document by clicking Home > Find (or type Ctrl+F). Results appear next to your document so you can see the term in context. Clicking on a search result jumps you to that occurrence.

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Click Replace (or type Ctrl+H) to find and replace text.

Print in Word for the web

Go to File > Print. Word for the web creates a PDF preview of your document that keeps all the layout and formatting of your document. Send the PDF to your printer and it will print the way you expect.

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Basic tasks in Word - Microsoft Support (2024)

FAQs

What are the basic task in MS Word? ›

Basic tasks in Word
  • Start a document. It's often easier to create a new document using a template instead of starting with a blank page. ...
  • Open a document. Every time you start Word, you'll see a list of your most recently used documents in the left column. ...
  • Save a document. ...
  • Read documents.

What are the 5 basic uses of Microsoft Word? ›

What is MS Word- Microsoft Word, or MS Word is a popular word-processing program used mainly for creating documents, such as brochures, letters, learning activities, quizzes, tests, and students' homework assignments.

What is word and what types of tasks are done using word? ›

Microsoft Word is a word processing application that allows you to create a variety of documents, including letters, resumes, and more.

How do I use tasks in MS Office? ›

Create a task
  1. Sign in to Outlook.com.
  2. Select Tasks from the app launcher.
  3. Select New.
  4. Type the subject, due date, and if you like, a note about the task.
  5. Select Show more details to enter information like Start date, Date complete, and Status and to track progress on the task such as % completed or hours worked.

What is a basic Microsoft Word test? ›

The Microsoft Word basic test enables employers and recruiters to identify and hire Microsoft Word professionals by evaluating working skills and job readiness. For this reason, the emphasis is laid upon evaluating the knowledge of applied skills gained through real work experience rather than theoretical knowledge.

What are the 10 functions of Microsoft Word? ›

What are 10 features of Microsoft Word?
  • Changing case.
  • Create a custom tab.
  • Quick parts.
  • Add placeholder text.
  • Edit wrap points when wrapping text.
  • Convert a list to a table.
  • Convert a bulleted list to SmartArt.
  • Quick selection methods.
Mar 26, 2023

What are 3 things about Microsoft Word? ›

Microsoft Word :
  • A Word processor is a computer program for processing words.
  • A Word processor software provides a general set of tools for entering, editing, and formatting text.
  • A word processor has everything that a conventional typewriter has. It provides various useful features that cannot be done on a typewriter.
Mar 18, 2024

What is word processing tasks? ›

It covers typing, symbols, editing, undoing, redoing, saving, selecting and formatting - all the basics to get your child feeling more confident when using a word processing computer program. There are explanations of each, along with activity suggestions.

What are the four main activities performed in word processing? ›

Some of the functions of word processing software include: Creating, editing, saving and printing documents.

What kind of tasks can be performed by word processing software? ›

A word processor is a device or software program capable of creating, storing, and printing text documents. It allows users to write and modify text, display it on a screen, save it electronically, and print it out.

How to start MS Word step by step? ›

Click on the Start menu and type “Microsoft Word” in the search bar. You'll see a list of suggested results – click on the one with the Word icon and you're done. Alternatively, open File Explorer by clicking the folder icon in the taskbar or pressing Windows key + E.

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