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[h=2]Using the Ruler
[h=3]Introduction[h=4]By the end of this lesson, learners should be able to:Format text using the ruler
[h=2]Using the Ruler
[h=3]The Ruler
You can adjust the width of margins, tabs, and indents in your document using Word's Ruler.
The Ruler is helpful when you need to create several columns, show column placement, or the distance between columns.
[h=2]Using the Ruler
[h=5]Hiding and Displaying the Ruler:
- Click View on the menu bar.
- The Ruler will appear at the top of the document.
If you switch to
Print Layout View (Choose
View
Print Layout View), a vertical
ruler displays along the left hand side of the screen. To hide this vertical ruler, switch to a different layout view.
[h=2]Using the Ruler
[h=3]Setting Tabs, Indents and Margins using the Ruler
The ruler provides a visual tool that allows you to quickly view, create and change your documents tabs, margins and indents.
Tabs
Click on the small gray box to the left of the ruler to move through the five different
Tab Settings
- Left tab
: Moves text toward the right edge of the page as you type.
- Center tab
: Centers text around the tab.
- Right tab
: Moves text toward the left edge of the page as you type.
- Decimal tab
: Aligns decimal numbers using the decimal point.
[h=5]For example:
- Bar tab
: Draws a vertical line on the document.
- Indent
: Inserts the indent marking anywhere along the ruler
- Hanging Indent
: Inserts a hanging indent anywhere along the ruler
[h=2]Using the Ruler
[h=5]To Place a Tab or Indent On The Ruler:
- Click the cursor anywhere in the block of text you want to format.
- Click the tab selection button (upper left of the ruler).
- Click the Ruler where you want your tab or indent to be set.
- If you set up a new tab, press the tab key to move your text to the new tab.
- If you set up a new indent, place the cursor at the new indent location.
[h=2]Using the Ruler
[h=3]Adjusting Tabs and Margins on the Ruler
[h=5]To Move an Existing Tab or Indent on the Ruler:
- Point the mouse on the tab or indent that you want to move.
- Click and hold the left mouse button until a dotted line appears below the tab.
- Drag the mouse to move the tab or indent to a new location.
- Release the left mouse button.
[h=2]Using the Ruler
[h=3]Adjusting Tabs and Margins on the Ruler
[h=5]To Remove a Tab from the Ruler:
- Point the mouse on the tab you want to remove.
- Click and hold the left mouse button until a dotted line appears below the tab.
- Drag the mouse off the Ruler.
- Release the left mouse button.
[h=2]Using the Ruler
[h=5]To Adjust a Margin using the Ruler:
- Point the mouse on the margin that you want to move.
- Click and hold the left mouse button once a double arrow appears over the margin until a dotted line appears below.
- Drag the mouse to increase or decrease the margin.
- Release the left mouse button.
Remember you can also increase or decrease your Indents by using the Increase/Decrease Indent buttons on the Formatting toolbar.
[h=2]Formatting Text
[h=3]Introduction[h=4]By the end of this lesson, learners should be able to:
Change the Type Style of text
- Bold
- Italics
- Underline
- Color
Adjust Font Size
[h=2]Formatting Text
[h=3]Challenge! [h=5]Experiment with Fonts
Download and save the
Cover Letter Word document to complete challenges 7 through 13.
- Open the cover letter document.
- Modify the document so the text is not bolded, italicized, or underlined.
- Change the document so all the text is black
- Modify the font size from 14 to 12.
- Change the font style from Arial to Times New Roman, or the font of your choice.
- Read the document. Are there any words that you should emphasize? If so, make those words bold.
- Save and close the document.
[h=2]Formatting Text
[h=3]Formatting Toolbar
The Formatting Toolbar contains buttons that allows you to change the appearance of
your text. The formatting toolbar contains buttons for font size, font style, colors and other
options. There are many different types of fonts. Some fonts are better used for business
correspondence while others are great for fun projects like birthday cards. Your computer
probably has twenty or more different fonts installed.
[h=2]Formatting Text
[h=5]To View the Formatting Toolbar:
- Click View on the Menu Bar.
- Select Toolbars and then Formatting from the cascading menu.
[h=2]Formatting Text
[h=3]Bold, Italics and Underline
Any text you type in Word, can be further customized by using the bold, italicized
or underlined options. You can even do a combination of all three options!
[h=2]Formatting Text
[h=5]To Change the Type Style of Text:
- Select the text you want to change.
- Choose one or more of the following options: (to stress emphasis you might want to try using the bold option)
- Click the Bold button on the Formatting toolbar. Ctrl + B
- Click the Italic button on the Formatting toolbar. Ctrl + I
- Click the Underline button on the Formatting toolbar. Ctrl + U
- Word automatically displays your changes.
To avoid frustration, remember to select text before you apply style. If you choose a type style
without selecting any text, Word uses your chosen styles on whatever text you type next.
[h=2]Formatting Text
Font Names
To select a font, you can scroll through the Font list. The list shows you all the fonts that are available on the computer you are using.
As you scroll through the many different font names, take notice of those fonts that have TT beside
their name. These TrueType fonts will look the same on both the computer screen and when you print them on paper.
[h=2]Formatting Text
[h=3]Using Color
The use of color can add emphasis to your words and make your document easier to read.
If you own a color printer, you can print documents in different colors. If you do
not own a color printer, your document will only appear in color on the screen.
[h=2]Formatting Text
[h=5]To Change the Color of Text:
- Select the text you want to change.
- Click the downward-pointing arrow on the Font Color button on the Formatting toolbar. A color palette appears.
- Click the color you want to apply.
- Word changes the color of your text.
If you would like to see more color options, Click the
More Colors button at the bottom
of the
color palette. You can choose from a list of
Standard Colors or
Customize your own color by clicking the
Customize Tab.
[h=2]Formatting Text
[h=3]Font Dialog Box
The Font Dialog Box gives similar options as the Formatting toolbar; however, it also offers more
advanced text features. You can use the Font Dialog Box to change your font, font style, size, color and many other font effects.
[h=2]Formatting Text
[h=5]To Open the Font Dialog Box:
Click
Format on the Menu Bar.
Select
Font from the menu list.
The Font Dialog Box will appear.
Remember you can also access the
Font Dialog Box from the
Font menu on the
Task Pane.
[h=2]Formatting Text
[h=3]Font Size
You can change the
Font Size from both the
Font Dialog Box and the
Formatting toolbar. You can use different
font sizes to give emphasis to different parts of your document. For example, the title of your document could be
displayed larger than the contents of your paper. Font size is commonly expressed in
points. Font sizes range
from 8 point (extremely small) to 72 point (very big). Word allows you to choose sizes smaller than 8 point and
larger than 72 point, but you must type these in
manually in the
Font Size box.
The standard Font size for most documents is 12 Point. You can preview different font sizes in the Preview window in the Font dialog box.
- Select Reveal Formatting on the Task Pane.
- Click the blue link, Font: under the Font Heading. The Font dialog box appears.
- Click on a font from the Font list.
- Select a size from the Font Size list.
- Look at the text in the preview window as you try different sizes.
OR
- Click Format on the Menu Bar.
- Select Font from the menu list. The Font dialog box appears.
- Click on a font from the Font list.
- Select a size from the Font Size list.
- Look at the text in the preview window as you try different sizes.
Remember you can also change the font size from the
Formatting toolbar.