Using Microsoft Word

Several of our classes are using Microsoft Word to type stories, poems, reports, and all kinds of other documents. Here are some tips to help when you're using Word.

• Highlight your text (by clicking and dragging with the mouse) before you try to change font, size, color, etc..
  
• If some of your text is underlined with a red squiggly line, it means that the computer thinks that word is spelled wrong. To check it, hold down the control key and while your still holding the control key, click on the word. The computer will make suggestions for the correct spelling, you can choose another spelling, or choose ignore. Sometimes the computer doesn't recognize names and other words that you know are spelled correctly. If you know the word is spelled right, then you can ignore it.
• If some of your text is underlined with a green squiggly line, it means that the computer thinks something is wrong with the grammar you used. Grammar is the choice of words you used, or the order you put them in, or something with the sentence structure. Hold the control key down while clicking on the words that are underlined. The computer will give you suggestions to correct the grammar. You can choose one of the suggestions, or choose ignore if you want to keep what you have written.
• Another option for checking spelling and grammar is to write your whole document. Then click on Tools at the top, then select Spelling and Grammar. The computer will do a spelling and grammar check on everything. You can make changes or ignore to keep what you have written.
• To save your work, click on File, then Save as. Type a name for your document at the top of the window. Click on school folder, the your grade, then your teacher's name, then click Save at the bottom of the window.

These are just a few tips to some of them more common questions students have when using Microsoft Word. Like any program, the more you use it, the more you will learn and the more comfortable you will be using it. Happy writing!