Microsoft Word is one of the most widely used word processors in the world. Most people are familiar with basic formatting and editing features, but Word has many advanced yet underutilized capabilities that can greatly enhance productivity. In this article, we will explore 7 incredible yet underused features in Word and provide step-by-step instructions on how to use them.
1. Focus Mode
Focus Mode allows you to eliminate on-screen distractions so you can concentrate on writing. Here’s how to use it:
Step 1
Click the “Focus Mode” icon in the bottom-right corner of the Word window (it looks like a person with blinders on).
Step 2
The ribbon and other UI elements will be hidden, leaving only the text on a plain background. You can now write without visual distractions.
Step 3
To exit Focus Mode, press the Esc key or click the Focus Mode icon again.
2. Dictation
Dictation allows you to speak into your microphone and have Word transcribe your speech into text automatically. Here’s how to set it up:
Step 1
Go to File > Options > Dictate and turn on “Dictate speech to text”.
Step 2
Put on a headset with a microphone and click the Dictate button on the ribbon.
Step 3
Start speaking into the microphone and watch the text appear! Say “new line” for a new paragraph.
Step 4
Click Dictate again to stop. The text will remain for editing.
3. Translate Document
Word has a built-in feature to translate an entire document into another language. Follow these steps:
Step 1
Select the entire document text by pressing Ctrl+A.
Step 2
Right-click the selected text and choose “Translate”.
Step 3
In the translation sidebar, choose the target language and click the Translate button.
Step 4
The translated document text will now appear while preserving formatting. You can copy and paste the translation elsewhere if desired.
4. Researcher
Researcher allows you to research topics and insert relevant quotes or citations without leaving Word. Here’s how:
Step 1
Click the Researcher icon in the References tab.
Step 2
Type in your search query and choose from web and image results.
Step 3
Insert a quote or image citation directly into the document by clicking the +Insert button.
Step 4
The source citation will be automatically generated in the proper format.
5. Resume Assistant
Resume Assistant walks you through building a professional resume in Word complete with prewritten phrases and templates. Follow these steps:
Step 1
Go to File > New and search for “resume” to see Resume Assistant templates.
Step 2
Choose a template and start filling in the prompts to build a custom resume.
Step 3
Resume Assistant will suggest appropriate job titles and common resume phrases that you can insert with one click as you write.
Step 4
When finished, you’ll have a polished resume perfectly formatted and ready to print or email.
6. Accessibility Checker
The accessibility checker finds issues in your document that could cause difficulties for people with disabilities. Here’s how to use it:
Step 1
Go to the Review tab and click “Check Accessibility”.
Step 2
The accessibility checker pane will show warnings and tips for improving accessibility.
Step 3
Click each suggestion to automatically fix issues or see help for manual corrections.
Step 4
Resolve all warnings to ensure your document is accessible to all readers.
7. Word Count by Section
Word can display word counts for individual sections in addition to the whole document. Here’s how:
Step 1
Click the Status Bar at the bottom to open the Word Count dialog box.
Step 2
Check the box for “Include text in footnotes and endnotes”.
Step 3
Click “More Information” to show word counts for each section in the document.
Step 4
Use this to stay within word limits for abstracts, figure captions, etc.
Conclusion
I hope this overview gets you excited to explore these incredibly useful yet underutilized Microsoft Word features. Automating menial tasks and eliminating distractions can go a long way towards boosting productivity. Try out a few that are relevant to your writing needs. Within a few weeks of daily use, you may wonder how you ever worked without them! Let us know in the comments if you have a favorite feature in Word that we missed.
