Video Transcript

How to Use Microsoft Word. You may be enrolled in a course that requires you to use word processing software to complete assignments, such as a term paper. In this video we will show you how to perform some basic functions using the popular word processing software, Microsoft Word. If you do not have Microsoft Office, which includes Microsoft Word, already installed on your computer please perform the following steps: From the Maysville Community and Technical College homepage, use your mouse to select the Current Students link, and then select the Student Discounts link found under the Services and Resources heading. Next, you will be required to enter your user ID and Password with your keyboard in the provided fields, and then click the Continue button with your mouse. On the next page, select the KCTCS Online Bookstores link with your mouse.  You will be taken to the Journey Ed website that lists a variety of software available to students at a discounted price. Use your mouse to select the Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010 software package download. Then use your mouse to select the Add to Cart button and follow the on-screen instructions to complete your software purchase and installation. Once you have installed Microsoft Office on your computer, or if you are using a computer located on campus, you will typically open Microsoft Word by using your mouse to select the Start button located in the lower left corner of your screen; then select All Programs; the Microsoft Office folder; and finally, Microsoft Word. This sequence may differ slightly depending upon the computer you are using. You may be able to open the program by using your mouse to double-click the Microsoft Word shortcut icon if one is located on your computer’s desktop. Once you have opened Microsoft Word, a new blank document will appear by default. You will notice a blinking cursor within the document as shown here. This indicates the location that text will appear when you use your keyboard to type. More than likely, your instructor will require your papers and assignments to be formatted with a specific font size, font style, line spacing and margin. We suggest you view the videos on MLA and APA formatting if your instructor requires papers in one of these formats. Under the Home tab in Microsoft Word, you can use your mouse to select a font from the drop down menu shown here. You can also select a font size to use from the font size drop down menu. If you need to type text that is bold, italic, or underlined—use your mouse to select the corresponding button from those shown here in the font menu, and then type your text. Click the button again to turn the feature off. To type paragraphs that are formatted with specific line spacing, click the line spacing button shown here in the paragraph menu, and select the desired setting. For instance, selecting “2” from this menu will allow us to type a paragraph that is double-spaced. To adjust the margins of your document, select the Page Layout tab with your mouse. Then select the Margins button, and choose from either one of the provided settings, or the Custom Margins option if your instructor has specified a margin setting that is not shown. To make changes to text that you have already typed, use your mouse to click and drag, while holding the mouse button down, to highlight the text. Release the mouse button once the text is highlighted, and then make the necessary changes to the text. In this example, we are changing the line spacing of the highlighted paragraph to be double spaced. To save your document, use your mouse to select the File tab, and then select Save. Select a location on your computer to save to, name your document, and click the Save button to complete this step. There are additional functions you may perform from the File tab as well, such as opening existing documents, creating new documents, printing documents, and more. If you need additional assistance using Microsoft Word, please contact your instructor. You may also view interactive tutorials from Microsoft that can teach you how to use Microsoft Word. These tutorials can be found online at the Microsoft Office website at the address: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/CH010369336.aspx. We hope that this video has been informative, and helpful to you as a student of Maysville Community and Technical College.