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Formatting Features

Lesson Topics

1. Bullet Points and Numbered Lists
2. Margin Adjustment
3. Line Spacing
4. Text Alignment
5. Columns
6. Headers and Footers
7. Indenting Paragraphs

Bullet Points and Numbered Lists

Sometimes you may want to make a list of things with bullet points or numbers beside each point. 

1. To do this click on the number list or bullet point icons on the formatting toolbar.
2. A number or a bullet point will appear.  Just type your point and press enter.
3. A new number or bullet point will appear and you can type your next point.
4. When you are done just press enter twice to get the numbers or bullet points to stop appearing

Adding Bullet Points or Numbers to a Typed List

If you already have a list of items typed up and you want to add bullet points or numbers follow the next instructions.

1. Highlight your list of items.                                           
2. Press the number or bullet point button on the formatting toolbar.

If you want to change the type of bullet points or numbers then:

1. Open the Format drop down menu at the top of your window then click on Bullets and Numbering.
2. Click on the appropriate tab (either bullets or numbers).
3. Choose the type of bullets or numbers you want.
4. Continue inserting bullets as described above.

Margin Adjustment

Margins are the white space around the text on a printed page.  You can make them most any size you wish following the next steps.  By default Word creates 1 inch margins on the top and 1.25 inch margins on the bottom of the page

1. Click on the File drop down menu.
2. Choose Page Setup from the menu.                                                   
3. You can now change the margins to any size you wish.  Remember the bigger the margin the more white space will be left around your page.

Line Spacing

Line spacing amount of space between your lines of text.  By default word uses single spacing, which means there is one line of space between your lines of text.  Sometimes you may want 1.5 or two lines of space.  To change this:

1. Click on the Format drop down menu at the top of the your window.
2. Select Paragraph.                                                                         
3. Click on the down arrow beside the Line Spacing box and select the number of spaces you need.

If you have already typed text and you want to change the line spacing follow the instructions below.

1. Highlight the text.                                                                                                              
2. Click on the Format drop down menu at the top of the your window.
3. Select Paragraph.                                                                      
4. Click on the down arrow beside the Line Spacing box and select the number of spaces you need.

Text Alignment

The text you type on a page can be lined up differently.

1. You can have the text so that every line starts flush with the left margin. 
2. You can have the text so that every line is flush with the right margin. 
3. You can have the text centred in the middle of the page. 
4. You can have the text justified so that every line is flush with the left and right margins. 

In order to change the text alignment you just have to press the proper icon on the formatting toolbar.                                                                                      

If you already have text typed and you want to change the alignment:

1. Highlight the text first.
2. Then choose the appropriate icon.

Columns

Sometimes you may want to have columns in your document, like a newspaper.  In order to get columns follow the next steps.

1. If you have already typed text it needs to be highlighted first.
2. Click on the Format drop down menu at the top of your window.
3. Click on Columns.
4. Choose the type of format you wish to have for your columns.
5. If you wish you can change the size of your columns by adjusting the width.

Headers and Footers

A header is a block of text which will appear at the top of every page in your document.

A footer is a block of text which will appear at the bottom of every page in your document. 

In order to add a header or a footer follow these instructions"

1. Select the View drop down menu.
2. Select Header and Footer from the menu.                              
3. You will see the Header and Footer toolbar pop up, you can ignore this for now.
4. Click on the dotted line box which appears at the top of your page and add your header.
5. Scroll down to the dotted line box at the bottom of the page and add a footer.
6. When you are done click on the close button on the Header and Footer toolbar.
7. If you want to change your header or footer just double click on either and make your changes.

Indenting Paragraphs

1. Place the cursor at the beginning of the paragraph.
2. Press the tab key.