How to Use Microsoft Word for the First Time

Microsoft Word is one of the most widely used programs in the world. It is a word processor — a program that lets you type text, format it to look the way you want, and save or print the finished document. People use Word to write letters, fill out forms, create resumes, and draft anything that needs to be on paper or shared as a file.

This guide is for people who are opening Word for the first time, or who have always felt unsure about where to start.

What you need

Microsoft Word is part of Microsoft 365, a subscription service that costs about $70 per year for one person, or $100 per year for a family of up to six. You can also buy a one-time version called "Office Home & Student." Word comes pre-installed on many Windows computers sold in the United States.

If you are not sure whether you have Word, click the Start button (the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of your screen) and look for "Word" or "Microsoft Word" in your programs list.

Free alternatives to Microsoft Word

You do not have to pay for Word to write documents. Two free alternatives work very well:

• **Google Docs** (docs.google.com) — free, works in your web browser, and automatically saves everything to the internet so you never lose your work. You need a free Google account (see our guide on creating a Google account).
• **LibreOffice Writer** (libreoffice.org) — free software you download and install on your computer. It looks and works very much like Word. And it can open and save Word files (.docx).

Both alternatives are excellent for everyday documents like letters and notes.

Understanding the Word window

When you open Word, you will see a large white area — this is your blank page. At the top is the Ribbon, a wide toolbar with tabs like "Home," "Insert," and "Layout." Most of what you need for basic documents is on the Home tab.

The blinking vertical line on the page is called the cursor. It shows you where your text will appear when you start typing.

Saving your work

Many first-time Word users type a document and then close the window without saving — and lose everything they wrote. Get in the habit of saving early and often.

When you save for the first time, Word asks you to choose a name for the file and where to save it. The default location on Windows computers is the Documents folder. Remember what you name the file, because that is how you will find it again. After the first save, you can press Ctrl+S (hold the Ctrl key and press S) at any time to save your progress without being asked any questions.

To find your file later, open File Explorer (the folder icon on your taskbar) and look in the Documents folder.

Printing your document

To print, go to File at the top left, then click Print. You will see a preview of your document on the right side of the screen. Make sure the correct printer is selected in the "Printer" dropdown, then click the big Print button. If your printer is not listed, it may not be connected or may need to be set up.

Sharing your document by email

To email a document, save it first. Then open your email program, create a new message, and look for an "Attach" or "paperclip" button. Find your saved document in the Documents folder and attach it. The person you send it to will receive the file and can open it in Word or Google Docs.

Sources: Microsoft Support (support.microsoft.com/en-us/word), GCFGlobal.org (gcfglobal.org/en/word), How-To Geek (howtogeek.com).