Microsoft
Word. The name's practically synonymous with "productivity app." If
you're reading this article at work (shame on you!) there's a pretty decent
chance you've got a Word doc open right now, and you probably think you've got
a good handle on Microsoft's word processor. We'll bet you don't know as much
as you think you do.
Don't
believe us? Read on for 10 quick tips and tricks for Microsoft Word--we think
at least a few will suprise you. If you're such a Word expert that they don't,
hit the comments and share some of your favorites tips.
Be Selective with How You Select
You already
know that double-clicking selects a single word, and you probably figured out
that triple-clicking selects an entire paragraph. But if you just want to
select a single sentence, hold down Ctrl and click on any word. To select an
entire table, hold down Alt and double-click.
Add a Comment Box
When a
friend or family member sends you a document to proofread, don’t waste your
time writing a lengthy email detailing all the horrendous mistakes you found;
mark up their Word file instead. Highlight a portion of text, click the Review
tab in the Ribbon bar, and select New Comment.
Insert Bullets and Number Lists Using Your Keyboard
When
inspiration hits, lifting your fingers off the keyboard to use your mouse can
mess up your mojo, but what do you do if you need to insert a bullet or
numbered list? It’s simple: type an asterisk and hit the spacebar to
auto-create a bullet list. You can do the same with numbers and dashes.
Use the Built-In Thesaurus
You don’t
need to hop online to use a thesaurus, the folks in Redmond had the good sense
to bundle one in Word. To use it, highlight an entry and press Shift+F7. Pretty
simple, right? Or maybe we should say it’s trouble-free, straightforward,
effortless, uncomplicated, or painless.