Word 2003 Tips and Tricks
As a Microsoft Word user since Version 1.0 for DOS, I have put together some of my favorite Word tricks for others.
Selecting Content
Here are some easy ways to select text. Double-click a word to select the word. Triple-click to select the entire paragraph. Use Ctrl+Shift+RightArrow or Ctrl+Shift+LeftArrow to select a word at a time.
Use the Margin to Select Text
Click in the margin to select a line of text. Your cursor changes to look like arrow. Click and drag to select additional lines of text. Double-click in the margin to select the entire paragraph. Triple-click selects entire document.
To select several paragraphs, drop your cursor at the beginning of the passage. Scroll to the end of the passage and Shift+Click. You can also begin at the end of the passage and work up.
To select part of a document, drop your cursor then press Ctrl+Shift+Home or Ctrl+Shift+End. Also try Ctrl+Shift+UpArrow or Ctrl+Shift+DownArrow. To select the entire document, use Ctrl+A.
Editing a Document
We often return to recently edited files to update them. You can have more than the default of four recently edited files. Tools > Options > General > Recently used file list = 9.
You can select a text block and drag it to a new place in the document. Cut and Paste not needed!
Ctrl+Y to repeat what you just did somewhere else. Ctrl+Z to undo back to the beginning of session.
Hide the Ruler. (View > Ruler). If you need it, just hover where it would be and it appears.
Double-click numbers or bullets to go directly to the dialog where you can modify them.
Speed Typing
In Tools > AutoCorrect Options for Replace type “cms†and for With type “COMSYSâ€. Use for any frequently typed phrase.
Quick Dummy Text
To fill a page with dummy text, type =rand(8,9) and press ENTER. For 8, specify the number of paragraphs. For 9, specify the number of sentences in each paragraph.
Use Word for Email
In Outlook, Tools > Options > Mail Format tab, select Use Microsoft Office Word 2003 to edit email messages. Then you will have all the power of Word for email!
Spellcheck as You Type (Red Squigglies)
Tools > Options > Spelling & Grammar tab, select Check spelling as you type and Check grammar as you type. This is on by default. If you are not seeing red squigglies, consider turning them on.
Research Any Word
Right-click any word and choose Look Up… You can see Encarta, Thesaurus, Translation and more.