Microsoft Office · Beginner level

Beginner level · Module 2: Creating Documents in Word · Lesson 1 of 3

The Word Workspace and Basic Editing

Navigate the ribbon and views, type and edit text, and use undo, cut, copy and paste.

In this lesson you will

  • Use the ribbon, views and zoom
  • Select and edit text with mouse and keyboard shortcuts

Key concepts

ribboncursor and selectionCtrl+C/X/V/Zviews

The lesson

Microsoft Word's ribbon groups commands into tabs: Home for everyday formatting, Insert for tables and pictures, Layout for margins and Review for checking. The status bar at the bottom shows page and word counts.

Editing is faster with the keyboard. Ctrl+C copies, Ctrl+X cuts, Ctrl+V pastes and Ctrl+Z undoes the last action. Double-click selects a word, triple-click a paragraph, and Shift with the arrow keys extends a selection.

Never fix a mistake by retyping a whole paragraph. Select only the part that is wrong and replace it — it is quicker and avoids new errors.

Step by step

  1. Open Word and identify the Home, Insert, Layout and Review tabs.
  2. Type the provided notice.
  3. Use selection shortcuts and cut/paste to reorder two sentences.
  4. Use Ctrl+Z to undo a change and Ctrl+Y to redo it.

Practice activity

Type a provided half-page notice and correct it using selection shortcuts, cut/paste and undo.

Expected result: The notice is typed and corrected using shortcuts rather than retyping.

Check your understanding

  1. What does Ctrl+Z do?

    Show answer

    Undoes the last action.

  2. How do you select a whole paragraph quickly?

    Show answer

    Triple-click inside it.

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