Many other useful tricks are actually beneficial and are good to know.
1. The most important trick is Ctrl Z. If you hit simultaneously the Control and Z keys, the computer will undo the previous auto-correction. Often the program will make a “clicking” sound when it engages the auto-correction function. Listen for this sound, and be ready to hit Ctrl Z. If the Ctrl Z is used once too often, Ctrl Y is the restore option.
2. If you are in a foreign language class and you need to use a diacritical mark (such as a tilde or an umlaut), you can insert these by selecting Insert on the menu bar and then
choosing Symbol. Then hunt for the diacritical mark you need. Additionally, science students can change quickly to a Greek font by highlighting the corresponding Roman letter, and then clicking on Symbol in the font window. Roman-alphabet users wanting to quickly insert international characters can find a list of keyboard shortcuts in the Foreign Language section of Writing at Carson-Newman College, 4th edition.
3. Typesetters traditionally have frowned on “widow” and “orphan” lines. These are single lines of text separated from the rest of a paragraph by a page break. Computer users, however, can quickly correct widows and orphans by turning on “widow/orphan protection.” You can find this option under Format in the menu bar. Then select Paragraph and click on Line and Page Breaks. A box called Widow/orphan protection is available. If clicked, this function will automatically adjust your spacing appropriately.
4. If you are prudent, you know how to save (Ctrl S) on a regular basis. However, MS-Word has an “Auto-Save” function to save automatically at timed intervals. Paranoid students can turn on this function by going to the Tools option on the menu bar, selecting Options, and then selecting Save. They will be able to set the Save Auto-Recover for any interval that seems appropriate.
5. Many formats require students to include page numbers and a header on every page of an essay. To do this quickly, select View on the menu bar. Then select Header and footer. A new box of options will appear. Here, you can type material that will appear on every page. You can also hit the tiny number key (#) which will automatically insert the correct page number on each page. Experiment with the alignment to make the header match the right format required for your class.
6. Sometimes you may need to insert a non-breaking space in order to keep two words together on the same line or to keep the periods of an ellipsis together on the same line. To do this, rather than simply hitting the space bar, you can go to the Insert option in the menu bar and select Symbol. Choose Special Characters. Then choose Non-breaking space. Alternatively, a fast way to create a non-breaking space is to simultaneously hit the control button, shift button, and the space bar (Ctrl Shift space).
7. Science students should know that superscripts and subscripts are done easily in MS Word. The superscript is done by placing the curser at the right end of the word and hitting simultaneously Ctrl Shift +. This places the curser in a higher position. You can at this point simply type in the superscripted material, and then repeat the Ctrl Shift + keystrokes to return to the normal height. Subscripts are done similarly, except that the defining keystroke is Ctrl +. Again, to counteract the problems mentioned above in #10, make sure there is at least one blank space to the right of the affected term.
8. Cutting and pasting text is also easy in MS Word. Simply highlight the appropriate text, hit Ctrl X, place the cursor in the desired location, strike simultaneously Ctrl V, and the text will be put there. Copying information to another location is done similarly. Instead of Ctrl X, use Ctrl C. This action is especially useful for presenting a similar list of equations.
9. The Bold, Italicize, and Underline options on the menu bar can also be done quickly by highlighting the desired text (as before) and using the Ctrl B, Ctrl I, and Ctrl U simultaneous keystrokes respectively.
10. Finally, if you desire to avoid all of the “auto-corrections” completely, MS Word provides a pleasant alternative. Simply go to the Tools option on the menu bar, click on Auto-Correct Options, and eliminate all of the green check marks.
MS Word is a valuable tool for the modern student. These lists above are certainly not exhaustive, but the student who is wary of these pitfalls and knowledgeable about these advantages will at least have a “leg up” on the writing process at C-N.
1. The most important trick is Ctrl Z. If you hit simultaneously the Control and Z keys, the computer will undo the previous auto-correction. Often the program will make a “clicking” sound when it engages the auto-correction function. Listen for this sound, and be ready to hit Ctrl Z. If the Ctrl Z is used once too often, Ctrl Y is the restore option.
2. If you are in a foreign language class and you need to use a diacritical mark (such as a tilde or an umlaut), you can insert these by selecting Insert on the menu bar and then
choosing Symbol. Then hunt for the diacritical mark you need. Additionally, science students can change quickly to a Greek font by highlighting the corresponding Roman letter, and then clicking on Symbol in the font window. Roman-alphabet users wanting to quickly insert international characters can find a list of keyboard shortcuts in the Foreign Language section of Writing at Carson-Newman College, 4th edition.
3. Typesetters traditionally have frowned on “widow” and “orphan” lines. These are single lines of text separated from the rest of a paragraph by a page break. Computer users, however, can quickly correct widows and orphans by turning on “widow/orphan protection.” You can find this option under Format in the menu bar. Then select Paragraph and click on Line and Page Breaks. A box called Widow/orphan protection is available. If clicked, this function will automatically adjust your spacing appropriately.
4. If you are prudent, you know how to save (Ctrl S) on a regular basis. However, MS-Word has an “Auto-Save” function to save automatically at timed intervals. Paranoid students can turn on this function by going to the Tools option on the menu bar, selecting Options, and then selecting Save. They will be able to set the Save Auto-Recover for any interval that seems appropriate.
5. Many formats require students to include page numbers and a header on every page of an essay. To do this quickly, select View on the menu bar. Then select Header and footer. A new box of options will appear. Here, you can type material that will appear on every page. You can also hit the tiny number key (#) which will automatically insert the correct page number on each page. Experiment with the alignment to make the header match the right format required for your class.
6. Sometimes you may need to insert a non-breaking space in order to keep two words together on the same line or to keep the periods of an ellipsis together on the same line. To do this, rather than simply hitting the space bar, you can go to the Insert option in the menu bar and select Symbol. Choose Special Characters. Then choose Non-breaking space. Alternatively, a fast way to create a non-breaking space is to simultaneously hit the control button, shift button, and the space bar (Ctrl Shift space).
7. Science students should know that superscripts and subscripts are done easily in MS Word. The superscript is done by placing the curser at the right end of the word and hitting simultaneously Ctrl Shift +. This places the curser in a higher position. You can at this point simply type in the superscripted material, and then repeat the Ctrl Shift + keystrokes to return to the normal height. Subscripts are done similarly, except that the defining keystroke is Ctrl +. Again, to counteract the problems mentioned above in #10, make sure there is at least one blank space to the right of the affected term.
8. Cutting and pasting text is also easy in MS Word. Simply highlight the appropriate text, hit Ctrl X, place the cursor in the desired location, strike simultaneously Ctrl V, and the text will be put there. Copying information to another location is done similarly. Instead of Ctrl X, use Ctrl C. This action is especially useful for presenting a similar list of equations.
9. The Bold, Italicize, and Underline options on the menu bar can also be done quickly by highlighting the desired text (as before) and using the Ctrl B, Ctrl I, and Ctrl U simultaneous keystrokes respectively.
10. Finally, if you desire to avoid all of the “auto-corrections” completely, MS Word provides a pleasant alternative. Simply go to the Tools option on the menu bar, click on Auto-Correct Options, and eliminate all of the green check marks.
MS Word is a valuable tool for the modern student. These lists above are certainly not exhaustive, but the student who is wary of these pitfalls and knowledgeable about these advantages will at least have a “leg up” on the writing process at C-N.
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