Microsoft Word is a widely used commercial word processor designed by Microsoft.

Microsoft Word is a component of the Microsoft Office suite of productivity software, but
can also be purchased as a stand-alone product.
It was initially launched in 1983 and has since been revised numerous times. Microsoft
Word is available for both Windows and Macintosh operating systems.
Microsoft Word is often called simply Word or MS Word.
There are many software packages to do the job of word processing. Some of them
work in DOS environment. Examples are WordStar, Word Perfect and Professional
Write. But in these days working in WINDOWS is becoming more and more popular. So
let us consider software for word processing which works in WINDOWS. Our choice is
MS-WORD because it is the most popular software in these days.
MS-WORD is a part of the bigger package called MS OFFICE, which can do much
more than word processing. In fact when you open up MS OFFICE you will find four
main components in it. They are MS-WORD (for word processing), MS EXCEL (for
spreadsheet), MS ACCESS (for database management) and MS POWERPOINT (for
presentation purposes).
WHAT IS WORD-PROCESSING?
Word Processor is a Software package that enables you to create, edit, print and save
documents for future retrieval and reference. Creating a document involves typing by
using a keyboard and saving it. Editing a document involves correcting the spelling
mistakes, if any, deleting or moving words sentences or paragraphs.
1. Advantages of Word Processing
 One of the main advantages of a word processor over a conventional typewriter is that a
word processor enables you to make changes to a document without retyping the entire
document.
2. Features of Word Processing
 Most Word Processor available today allows more than just creating and editing
documents. They have wide range of other tools and functions, which are used in
formatting the documents. The following are the main features of a Word Processor
 Text is typing into the computer, which allows alterations to be made easily.
 Words and sentences can be inserted, amended or deleted.
 Paragraphs or text can be copied /moved throughout the document.
 Margins and page length can be adjusted as desired.
 Spelling can be checked and modified through the spell check facility.
 Multiple document/files can be merged.
 Multiple copies of letters can be generated with different addresses through the mail-
merge facility.

History

The first version of Microsoft Word was developed by Charles Simonyi and Richard Brodie,
former Xerox programmers hired by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1981. Both programmers worked
on Xerox Bravo, the first WYSIWYG(What You See Is What You Get) word processor. The first
Word version, Word 1.0, was released in October 1983 for Xenix and MS-DOS; it was followed by
four very similar versions that were not very successful. The first Windows version was released in
1989, with a slightly improved interface. When Windows 3.0 was released in 1990, Word became a
huge commercial success. Word for Windows 1.0 was followed by Word 2.0 in 1991 and Word 6.0 in
 Microsoft Word is a widely used commercial word processor designed by Microsoft. Microsoft Word is a component
of the Microsoft Office suite of productivity software, but can also be purchased as a stand-alone product.
It was initially launched in 1983 and has since been revised numerous times. Microsoft Word is available for both
Windows and Macintosh operating systems.
Microsoft Word is often called simply Word or MS Word.
There are many software packages to do the job of word processing. Some of them work in DOS environment.
Examples are WordStar, Word Perfect and Professional Write. But in these days working in WINDOWS is becoming
more and more popular. So let us consider software for word processing which works in WINDOWS. Our choice is
MS-WORD because it is the most popular software in these days.
MS-WORD is a part of the bigger package called MS OFFICE, which can do much more than word processing. In
fact when you open up MS OFFICE you will find four main components in it. They are MS-WORD (for word
processing), MS EXCEL (for spreadsheet), MS ACCESS (for database management) and MS POWERPOINT (for
presentation purposes).
WHAT IS WORD-PROCESSING?
Word Processor is a Software package that enables you to create, edit, print and save documents for future retrieval
and reference. Creating a document involves typing by using a keyboard and saving it. Editing a document involves
correcting the spelling mistakes, if any, deleting or moving words sentences or paragraphs.
1. Advantages of Word Processing
 One of the main advantages of a word processor over a conventional typewriter is that a word processor enables you
to make changes to a document without retyping the entire document.
2. Features of Word Processing
 Most Word Processor available today allows more than just creating and editing documents. They have wide range of
other tools and functions, which are used in formatting the documents. The following are the main features of a Word
Processor
 Text is typing into the computer, which allows alterations to be made easily.
 Words and sentences can be inserted, amended or deleted.
 Paragraphs or text can be copied /moved throughout the document.
 Margins and page length can be adjusted as desired.
 Spelling can be checked and modified through the spell check facility.
 Multiple document/files can be merged.
 Multiple copies of letters can be generated with different addresses through the mail-merge facility.

History

The first version of Microsoft Word was developed by Charles Simonyi and Richard Brodie,
former Xerox programmers hired by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1981. Both programmers worked on Xerox Bravo,
the first WYSIWYG(What You See Is What You Get) word processor. The first Word version, Word 1.0, was released
in October 1983 for Xenix and MS-DOS; it was followed by four very similar versions that were not very successful.
The first Windows version was released in 1989, with a slightly improved interface. When Windows 3.0 was released
in 1990, Word became a huge commercial success. Word for Windows 1.0 was followed by Word 2.0 in 1991 and
Word 6.0 in 1993. Then it was renamed to Word 95 and Word 97, Word 2000 and Word for Office XP (to follow
Windows commercial names). With the release of Word 2003, the numbering was again year-based. Since then,
Windows versions include Word 2007, Word 2010, Word 2013, Word 2016, and most recently, Word for Office 365.
In 1986, an agreement between Atari and Microsoft brought Word to the Atari ST.[1] The Atari ST version was a
translation of Word 1.05 for the Apple Macintosh; however, it was released under the name Microsoft Write (the name
of the word processor included with Windows during the 80s and early 90s). [2][3] Unlike other versions of Word, the
Atari version was a one time release with no future updates or revisions. The release of Microsoft Write was one of
two major PC applications that were released for the Atari ST (the other application being WordPerfect). Microsoft
Write was released for the Atari ST in 1988.
In 2014 the source code for Word for Windows in the version 1.1a was made available to the Computer History
Museum and the public for educational purposes.[4][5]

Features
HOW ABOUT CHECKING YOUR SPELLING? – You can correct your spelling errors all in one go, to ensure you

haven’t left any stone unturned. This can be done by running a full Word spell check from the Review tab, Proofing

group, Spelling and Grammar button (or press the F7 keyboard shortcut). When using the main Spelling and

Grammar dialog box, words in your document which are not found in Word's dictionary will be listed in the Not in

Dictionary box. Suggestions will be presented below with the first suggestion selected. The options you have are

similar to the right-click options available for corrections as you type.

However, instead of clicking a suggestion directly, there are two buttons available: the Change button to correct this

occurrence and the Change All button to replace all occurrences of the word in the document with the same

suggestion. Alternatively, you can double-click the appropriate suggestion to change this occurrence. The

AutoCorrect button will add an item to the AutoCorrect list replacing the marked word with the currently selected

suggestion. Note that you can still edit your document when the Spelling and Grammar dialog box is displayed, so if

none of the suggestions are appropriate, you can make your own correction directly in the body of the document.
2) UTILISING THE BENEFITS OF MAIL MERGE – This feature allows us to send out bulk emails, but consequently

with unique elements. For example, we could produce a series of labels or envelopes for a large mailing, an email or

letter that includes names and addresses and other details or a ‘directory’. Users simply create one document that

contains the information that will be the same in each version, and then add placeholders for the information that will

be unique to each version.

If you just want to send a single letter to one of your Outlook contacts, there may be no need to use mail merge at all.

Word has an Address Book button that allows you to select and insert address details from Outlook. Just right-click in

the Quick Access Toolbar and choose Customise Quick Access Toolbar, Choose commands from: Commands Not in

the Ribbon and Address Book should be near the top.

3) FIND & REPLACE – Save precious time with this effective Word feature. Word Replace can search for all

occurrences of a particular word, phrase or set of characters and replace them with an alternative. You will be given

the option to replace all occurrences or to move through them individually, accepting or rejecting each change.
Here we are choosing to replace Word 2007 with Word 2010. Clicking the Replace All button will change all

occurrences of the Find what term with the Replace with term in the entire document or the selected area and then

report the number of changes made. Alternatively, Find Next will select the next occurrence of the term so you can

use the Replace button to replace it or the Find Next button to leave it unaltered, and select the next candidate for

replace.

4) INSERTING WATERMARKS – If you’re sending an important document or draft sample, you want to be able to

protect your content without having to edit much of it. Insert a watermark specific to your objectives via the page

layout button. You can also customise your own watermark, and also insert your own picture. This is great to insert

your brand logo, for reports your business may produce or any other document.
Don't forget to save your file as a PDF document first, so that whoever you send the document to can’t edit or remove

the watermark you have inserted.

5) INSERTING YOUR HEADER & FOOTER – It’s important to use the space in your header and footer to save

space in other areas of your document. This also makes your file have a professional look that can include the page

numbers across the whole document for example. However, what people don’t seem to take advantage of, is the fact

that they can insert images, more specifically a company logo or an image in context with the document's overall

theme.
When inserting images or text within the header or footer, it is automatically applied to the whole document, saving

you time and effectively providing a consistent theme to your work.

6) USING HYPERLINKS STRATEGICALLY – One of the best ways to give your Word document that extra cutting

edge is to insert hyperlinks on images and text to make your document interactive (by right clicking on the text/image

and clicking hyperlink, you can then select where you wish to direct the user to) where possible. A great way to

further utilise this tool, is to direct users to another article or web page that has your digital footprint all over.
These features are just a few of Microsoft Word’s user friendly tools that can be implemented rather easil. However

basic they may sound, they will provide you with the extra confidence and skills needed to shine with Microsoft Word.

Check out our Microsoft Word syllabus to discover other areas of Microsoft Word you might be interested in

learning.

USES

1. Business and workplace use of Microsoft Word: –

You can create all types of official documents in Microsoft Word. You can use template function in Microsoft to

download letterhead sample, bills, and cash memo, joining letter, receipts, letterhead and all various types of

accounts management related work.

You can send an email by using mail merge that helps you to send one document to thousands of people with name

and address.

The use of Microsoft Word in official works is really easy and productive other than any other word processing
software. After installing and working on MS word you don’t need to find anything on the search engine. It’s because

if you don’t know something, you can even search inside the Microsoft Word when it’s connected to the internet.

2. MS word uses in Education: –

Microsoft word is the best teaching tools for teachers. You can create lecture script by using text, word art, shapes,

colors, and images. That will explore creativity in students. They will watch a slide or printed document more

interestingly.

Other than that you can type and edit question paper in Microsoft Word. You can write an application, a letter that is

helpful in a certain situation. Microsoft Word is used to create various educational materials. It’s helpful to create

error-free documents.

3. Home-based uses of Microsoft Word: –

You can create a birthday card, invitation card in Microsoft Word by using pre-defined templates or using insert menu

and format menus functions. You can also type a letter to municipal party on MS-Word.

Microsoft word is like a diary for personal use, in which you can write your day to day actives. Such as you can type

and print the shopping list in the paper.

4. Microsoft Word helps you to get a job: –

Microsoft Office basic knowledge can play a big role to get you a job. As you learned above business and commercial

uses of Microsoft Word. It means the basic and advanced knowledge of MS Word can help you to get a job. And its’

great skills that you can highlight in your resume.

5. Help to create resumes, notes, and assignments: –

You can create notes and assignment on MS-word. It’s easy to write and format text in Microsoft word by using

various text formatting options such as paragraph, fonts, styles, etc. You can insert a cover page, you can insert

watermark and tables in your assignment according to your choice.

6. You can create books, articles, and newsletters: –

Microsoft word is used by millions of people around the world for document writing since its launch. And writing a

book on Microsoft Word is really easy. There are lots of features and functionality that can help you to create and

print a book.

A book needs a cover page, content, head and footers, image adjustments, text alignment, and text highlighter, etc.

All these features are available in Microsoft Word.

Also, you can create e-books or pdf documents by just need to save your document in .pdf. This is an option you can

find in the file menu after that change the save type from .docx to .pdf and it will create an ebook or notes files for

you. But save an original copy of Word file in .docx, before saving in .pdf format.

7. Used to create edit, transcribe, and convert PDF documents: –

You can create and edit PDF document in Microsoft Word. You can also transcribe the video into a word file. You can

copy and edit pre-written books.

Microsoft word is used by data entry operators, assistant and typist more often to enter and format text in a word file.

You can also use Microsoft word to translate a document from English to Hindi and Italian to English. But to type in

Hindi, You need Hindi fonts such as Kundli, Agra, etc.

8. You can start an offline/online business after learning the Microsoft word: –

Now you know that there are so many uses of Microsoft Word and Office in our daily life. So, you can use Microsoft

word to start the business. You can start your business online and offline. You need to create documents for official
works. It’s like a data entry business. You can start freelancing to get Microsoft Word related works. You can sell

documents on your own website. You can even buy a printer and provide notes for school students. Like a home-

based cyber café.

9. Collaborate with team members anytime and from anywhere: –

You can use Microsoft word to collaborate with your team while working on the same project and document. For that,

you need to use Microsoft word online. Microsoft word is now updated to cloud base application in which the cost of

official works is reduced.

10. You can use Microsoft Word to teach student: –

Microsoft word commercial uses are more than our thinking. But after learning and practicing Microsoft Office or

Microsoft application you can teach to other people.

You can teach your own kids how to download images and align text with images for notes. How to create resumes. If

you have minimum knowledge of official works then you can even start teaching people online by creating a video

tutorial that you can upload on YouTube. After that, you can monetize your video and website content with Google

Adsense.