Word Processor Basics

A word processor is a computer application that is used for the creation of any sort of word-based document that will be used for printing, emailing, sharing, or storing. In fact, word processing is the most often-employed of all computer applications.

More formally known as a document preparation system, word processing applications are a huge advancement on the obsolete stand-alone office machines, known as word processors, of the 1970s and 80s that combined the keyboard text-entry and printing function of an electric typewriter, with a dedicated computer for the editing of text.

The word processors (with Microsoft Word being the most widely utilised) with which we are now familiar, and which, according to Microsoft, are used by hundreds of millions of people on a daily basis across the world, are so advanced and offer so many features that one will find it considerably beneficial to receive formal training in the capabilities of these applications.

Let's take a look at some of the most advantageous (if elementary) uses of word processing applications versus the typewriter of old:

- Compared to typing a document on a typewriter, necessary changes can be made to a page without the need for the entire document to be retyped. If a typing mistake has been made, the cursor simply needs to backed up to the point of error and the error corrected

- If you want to delete a paragraph or sentence, you simply highlight the words and push the delete button on the keyboard, and the words will be gone without a trace

- It is equally easy to insert a word, a sentence, or a paragraph into the middle of a document. Or to move a section of text from one area to another within a document, or between documents

- When all changes have been made, with the click of a tab the document can be sent to the printer for a hard copy.

Most computers these days come with an entry-level productivity suite, such as Microsoft Works, or a more advanced one such as Microsoft Office, which contains a word processor, such as Microsoft Word.

To begin creating a document using MS Word, double click the Word icon that appears on your desktop or in your Start menu, and start typing. The advantage of using this application is that you can get all your words, points, or facts down and from there you can format the text so that it is easy to read and understand.

Below are a few of the more basic commands that will help to simplify the formatting process, without having to use the tabs at the top of the page:
Bold: CTRL + B
Centre a paragraph: CTRL + E
Copy: CTRL + C
Decrease the font size by 1 point: CTRL + [
Double-space lines: CTRL + 2
Help: F1
Increase the font size by 1 point: CTRL + ]
Insert a footnote: ALT + CTRL + F
Insert an endnote: ALT + CTRL + D
Italic: CTRL + I
Left-align a paragraph: CTRL + L
Page Break: CTRL + ENTER
Print: CTRL + P
Remove a paragraph indent from the left: CTRL + SHIFT + M
Right-align a paragraph: CTRL + R
Save: CTRL + S
Select All: CTRL + A
Single-space lines: CTRL + 1
Thesaurus: SHIFT + F7
Remove Indent: CTRL + SHIFT + M
Underline: CTRL + U
Undo: CTRL + Z

To learn more about these and other more-advanced features and functions of Microsoft Word, a Word training course may be of benefit to you.