Word processing and use of Word Processor application

Word Processing

Word processing means to use a computer to create, edit, format and print documents. The great advantage of word processing over using a typewriter is that you can make changes without retyping the entire document

Word Processor

A word processor is computer application software that enables a user to create a document,editand format, store it electronically and print

Uses of Word Processing

Some of the functions of word processing software include:

• Creating, editing, saving and printing documents.
• Copying, pasting, moving and deleting text within a document.
• Formatting text, such as font type, bolding, underlining or italicizing.
• Creating and editing tables.
• Inserting elements from other software, such as illustrations or photographs.
• Correcting spelling and grammar.

Application of Word Processor

A word processor can be used for creating documents like :

• Memo
• Letters
• Resumes
• Examinations
• Books
• Invitations
• Invoices
• Postcard etc

EXERCISE

Define the following terms

1. Word processing

2. Word processor

Examples Of Word Processor   

The examples of word processor include the following

1. Word star
2. Microsoft Word
3. Word Perfect
4. Word Pad etc.

Features of the word processor

The basic features of the word processors are

1. Insert Text : allow you to insert text anywhere
2. Delete text : allows you to erase text , characters, words or lines
3. Cut ,copy , paste : cut allows you to move an item in a copy mode, copy allows you to duplicate while paste allows you to insert an item that has already being cut or copied
4. Page size and Margin : this allows you to adjust your page size and margins
5. Search and replace: this allow you to search for a particular word with the option of replacing it with another word .

Other features of the standard Word processor are :

• File management
• Font specification
• Headers , footers and page numbers
• Layouts
• Macros
• Spell checkers
• Thesaurus
• Table of content and index.

Office Application

The Microsoft Office suite incorporates the following:

1. Word Processori.e.  Ms Word
2. Spread sheet i.e. Ms Excel
3. Presentation Package i.e. Ms PowerPoint
4. Database Package i.e. Ms Access
5. Web Page/ website development package i.e Front Page

Entering Text

To enter text, just begin typing from the keyboard at the insertion point. The insertion point moves to the right as you type. When you come to the end of the line continue to type as you don’t need to press ENTER key before it automatically goes to the next line.

Moving around the document

Use the following combination of keys to move around the document

Key combinations	Movement
Home	Move to the beginning of the line
End	Move to the end of the line
Ctrl + right arrow	Move one word to the right
Ctrl + left arrow	Move one word to the left
Ctrl + up arrow	Moves to the previous paragraph
Page up	Move up one window
Page down	Move down one window
Ctrl + Pgup	Move up one page
Ctrl + Pgdn	Move down one page
Ctrl + home	Move to the  top of the document
Ctrl + End	Move to the bottom of the document

Selecting Text with the Mouse

The mouse is an excellent tool for selecting text in your document during the editing process. The following steps guides you in text selection

1. Double clicking : double a word to select it
2. Triple clicking : triple in a paragraph to select it
3. Ctrl + click : is used for selecting a sentence

Font formatting in Word processing

Formatting : this is the manipulation carried out on the font . this is also called text called Text Formatting.

The various text formatting includes :

1. Changing font : font is  a collection of letters ,numbers ,and special characters that contains the same type face, thickness and size.

• Changing font sizes : font sizes of characters can be increased up to 72

• Font Attribute : the following can be carried out on the font

1. Bold
2. Italic
3. Underline
4. Font colours: the colour of the characters can be changed to a suitable one

Page Setup

The following can be done under page setup

1. Settings Margins
2. Setting Paper size
3. Page orientation

EXERCISE

State the features of the word processor

EXERCISE

State the procedures on how  to

1. load the Ms word2. close the ms word