Microsoft Word Tips and Tricks: Formatting

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is a commonly used document editing program. All of the campus computers have Microsoft Word installed.  Click Here for Instructions on How Students Can Get Microsoft Office 365. For more information and assistance with Microsoft Word, visit Word help & Learning.

Font Settings

Font settings are located in the Font section of the Home Tab. When choosing a font from the drop down menu, each font name is written in the style of the font, to give an example of what it looks like. The font size option is located next to the font style drop down menu. Most professors require you to use size 12 and only allow certain font styles.

Paragraph Settings

Next to the Font menu options are the Paragraph options.

• On the top row is the Bullets and Numbering options. Clicking the dropdowns will allow you to choose how you want them to look. To go to the next level of the list, you can hit “Enter” and then “Tab” or use the Decrease Indent and Increase Indent options to the right.
• Paragraph Alignments are located on the bottom row of the Paragraph section. Most of your papers will be set to Left Align, though titles are usually Center.
• Line Spacing is located right next to the paragraph types. Unless stated otherwise, use 2.0 which is double spaced.

Hanging Indents?

Hanging indent is the paragraph format that both MLA and APA have you use for your citation list. To set hanging indents, click on the little arrow in the bottom right corner of the Paragraph section. Under Indentation, click on the Special dropdown and choose Hanging. You can also change your paragraph type, line spacing, and bullet points from here.