Select-Then-Do
Many operations in Word are executed as select-then-do operations. You first select a block of text, then
you issue a command that will affect the selected text. You may select the text in many different ways, the
most basic of which is to click and drag over the desired characters. You may also take one of many
shortcuts, which include double clicking on a word, pressing Ctrl as you click a sentence, and triple
clicking on a paragraph.
Once text is selected, you may then delete it, boldface or italicize it, or even change its color. You may
move it or copy it to another location in the same or a different document. You can highlight it, underline,
or even check its spelling. Then, depending on whether or not you like what you have done, you may undo
it, redo it, and/or repeat it on subsequently selected text.
The Grammar Check
All documents should be thoroughly proofed before they be printed and distributed. This means that
documents, at a minimum should be spell cheked,, grammar cheked, and proof read by the author. A
documents that has spelling errors and/or grammatical errors makes the Author look unprofessional and
illiterate and their is nothing worse than allowing a first impression too be won that makes you appear
slopy and disinterested, and a document full or of misteakes will do exactly that. Alot of people do not
realize how damaging a bad first impression could be, and documents full of misteakes has cost people
opportunities that they trained and prepared many years for.
Microsoft Word includes an automated grammar check that will detect many, but certainly not all, errors as
the previous paragraph demonstrates. Unlike the spell check, the grammar check is subjective, and what
seems appropriate to you may be objectionable to someone else. The English language is just to
complicated for the grammar check to detect every error, or even most errors. Hence, there is no substitute
for carefully proof reading a document your self. Hence there is no substitute for carefully proof reading a
document your self.
FORMATTING
It is not difficult, especially with practice, to learn to format a document. It is not long
before the mouse goes automatically to the Format Font Command to change the selected
text to a sans-serif font, to increase the font size, or to apply a boldface or italic style. Nor
is it long before you go directly to the Format Paragraph Command to change the
alignment or line spacing for selected paragraphs.
What is not easy, however, is to teach discretion in applying formats. Too many different
formats on one page can be distracting, and in almost all cases, less is better. Be
conservative and never feel that you have to demonstrate everything you know how to do
in each and every document that you create. Discretion is the better part of valor. No
more than two different typefaces should be used in a single document, although each can
be used in a variety to different styles and sizes.
It is always a good idea to stay on the look out for what you feel are good designs and
then determine exactly what you like and don’t like about each. In that way, you are
constantly building ideas for your own future designs.