Microsoft Word is one of the most commonly used pieces of software in the world. As part of the Microsoft Office suite, over 1 billion people rely on Word for writing documents on a daily basis.
However, many Word users only utilize the basic features and are unaware of some of the more advanced tools that can boost productivity.
In this blog post, we will cover 6 incredibly useful Microsoft Word tips and tricks that everyone should know. Implementing these simple time-saving hacks can help you work more efficiently in Word.
1. Use Keyboard Shortcuts
One of the easiest ways to save time in Word is to use keyboard shortcuts instead of clicking through the Ribbon tabs to access different features.
Some of the most helpful Word keyboard shortcuts include:
- Ctrl + B: Bold highlighted text
- Ctrl + I: Italicize highlighted text
- Ctrl + U: Underline highlighted text
- Ctrl + Z: Undo last action
- Ctrl + Y: Redo last action
Taking a few minutes to memorize Word’s keyboard shortcuts will allow you to format and edit documents much faster.
2. Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts
In addition to built-in keyboard shortcuts, you can also create your own custom ones in Word.
This allows you to set up shortcuts for commonly used actions and save even more time.
Here’s how to make a custom keyboard shortcut:
- Go to File > Options
- Click Customize Ribbon
- Select Keyboard shortcuts: Customize
- Choose a category, select the action, and add a custom shortcut
For example, set Ctrl+W to quickly apply Word’s “Normal” style to highlighted text.
3. Use the Navigation Pane
The Navigation Pane in Word provides an overview of your document’s structure in a sidebar, making it easy to jump between different sections.
To enable the Navigation Pane:
- Go to View > Show
- Check Navigation Pane
You can then click headings in the pane to quickly navigate your document instead of scrolling.
4. Lookup Definitions
Struggling to remember what a word means? Use Word’s built-in dictionary to conveniently look up definitions without leaving your document.
To define a word:
- Double click the word to highlight it
- Right click and select Smart Lookup
- A sidebar will appear with the word’s definition
This saves you from having to open a separate browser tab to search for definitions.
5. Use Focus Mode
Easily distracted while writing? Enable Focus Mode to hide all the Ribbon tabs and panes so you only see the text.
To turn on Focus Mode:
- Go to View
- Select Focus Mode
This full screen writing view can help improve concentration by removing on-screen clutter.
6. Dictate Text with Speech Recognition
Instead of manually typing, utilize Word’s built-in speech recognition technology to dictate text.
To start dictating:
- Go to Dictate on the Ribbon
- Select Dictate
- Start speaking out loud to insert text
Dictating text can allow you to get words on the page faster.
Conclusion
Mastering these Microsoft Word tips and tricks can lead to significant time savings that boost daily productivity.
The ability to efficiently navigate documents, format text faster, eliminate distractions, and utilize dictation can help you create Word docs quicker.
Implement some of these handy hacks and watch your proficiency with Word skyrocket!
