How to Learn Microsoft Office Word 2007

A complex word processor like Microsoft Word 2007 helps you create documents such as resumes, letters and flyers. Word is best learned hands-on. Whether youare learning for the first time or a previous Word user, it is best to play with the software before tackling a serious project.

• 1

  Open Word, and a new document appears in the document window. Underneath the title bar is the Ribbon. The Ribbon contains tools, commands, buttons and menus to help create a document. The Ribbon is divided into sections by tabs such as Home or View. Each tab section contains groups such as Font or Editing. Each group has various options to choose from like aligning a paragraph or changing the margins. Click on each tab area to see what is available. When you move the mouse over Ribbon items, a pop-up box appears giving more information about that feature.

• 2

  Type a paragraph in your document about your favorite activity. Using your mouse, double-click a word in your paragraph. Click on the "Home" tab and then click on the "B" button in the Font group to bold the word. Double-click other words and try out the other buttons in the Font group to make italics or underlines.

• 3

  Triple-click the paragraph you wrote to select the entire paragraph. Change the paragraph font by clicking on the "Home" tab and clicking on the "Font" drop-down menu in the Font group. Scroll through the listed fonts. As you scroll, watch how the paragraph changes to reflect the font face. Choose a new font face by clicking on a font.

• 4

  Undo the font face selection by clicking on the "Undo" button (it looks like a counter-clock-wise arrow) above the Home tab. This will undo the last command or typing you did.

• 5

  Move your cursor to the end of the paragraph. Click the "Insert" tab, and then click on "Clip Art" in the Illustrations group. When you click on Clip Art, a task pane opens to the right of the document window. Type a graphic name to search for in the "Name" field and click the "Go" button. Add a graphic by clicking on the thumbnail.

• 6

  Save the document by clicking on the round "Microsoft Office" button in the left corner of the Ribbon. Click on "Save" and type a name for the file in the "File Name" field. Click "Save." The title bar at the top reflects the new file name. Print the document by clicking on the "Microsoft Office" button and then clicking "Print."

• 7

  Close the document by clicking the "Microsoft Office" button and clicking "Close." Reopen the document by clicking the "Microsoft Office" button and clicking "Open." Select the document's name from the "Name" field and then click "Open." Close out of Word by clicking the "Microsoft Office" button and clicking "Exit Word."