MS Word - Editing a Document

Typing and Inserting Text

To enter text, just start typing! The text will appear where the blinking cursor is located. Move the cursor by using the arrow buttons on the keyboard or positioning the mouse and clicking the left button. The keyboard shortcuts listed below are also helpful when moving through the text of a document:

Selecting Text

To change any attributes of text, the text must first be highlighted. Select the text by dragging the mouse over the desired text while keeping the left mouse button depressed, or hold down the SHIFT key on the keyboard while using the arrow buttons to highlight the text. The following table contains shortcuts for selecting a portion of the text:

Deselect the text by clicking anywhere outside of the selection on the page or press an arrow key on the keyboard.

Inserting Additional Text

Text can be inserted in a document at any point using any of the following methods:

• Type Text:  Put your cursor where you want to add the text and begin typing
• Copy and Paste Text:  Highlight the text you wish to copy and right click and click Copy, put your cursor where you want the text in the document and right click and click Paste.
• Cut and Paste Text:  Highlight the text you wish to copy and right click and click Cut, put your cursor where you want the text in the document and right click and click Paste.
• Drag Text:  Highlight the text you wish to move, click on it and drag it to the place where you want the text in the document.

You will notice that you can also use the Clipboard group on the Ribbon.

Rearranging Block of Text

To rearrange text within a document, you can utilize the Clipboard Group on the Home Tab of the Ribbon. Insert picture of clipboard group labeled.

• Move text:  Cut and Paste or Drag as shown above
• Copy Text:  Copy and Paste as above or use the Clipboard group on the Ribbon
• Paste Text:  Ctrl + V (hold down the CTRL and the “V” key at the same time) or use the Clipboard group to Paste, Paste Special, or Paste as Hyperlink

Deleting Blocks of Text

Use the BACKSPACE and DELETE keys on the keyboard to delete text. Backspace will delete text to the left of the cursor and Delete will erase text to the right. To delete a large selection of text, highlight it using any of the methods outlined above and press the DELETE key.

Search and Replace Text

To find a particular word or phrase in a document:

• Click Find on the Editing Group on the Ribbon
• To find and replace a word or phrase in the document, click Replace on the Editing Group of the Ribbon.

Undo Changes

To undo changes:

• Click the Undo Button on the Quick Access Toolbar