20 top tips for Word

Like an iceberg, only a tenth of Microsoft Word is visible to the casual observer. However, this is enough for most tasks, and users can gradually add to their repertoires of word-processing techniques over time.

The 20 tips we offer here will change the way you use Word and save time. Not all will be new to you, but we think there’s something here for everyone ­ whether you want to design your own toolbars or are looking for a quick way of inserting dividing lines between sections. The tips are suitable for all versions of Word from 2003 onwards, including the new Word 2007.

1 Customise the dictionary
As well as its standard dictionaries, Word keeps a separate one called Custom.dic, which stores all the words you’ve added to the dictionary during spellchecking. If you’ve inadvertently added incorrectly spelled words and want to remove them, open the Tools menu and click Options.

On the Spelling and Grammar tab, click Custom Dictionaries, then tick Custom.dic and select Modify. As well as deleting words, you can enter new ones to build up a bank of specialist vocabulary. To do the same thing in Word 2007, click the Office button (top left), select Word Options, then Proofing, and then click the Custom Dictionaries button.

2 Convert text to tables
If you’ve tabulated columns of figures in a Word document, consider turning them into a table: it will make the figures easier to align and you’ll be able to format and move the table with ease.

The only requirement is to make sure there’s only one tab (or comma or other symbol) between each column before selecting the text. Next, click on the Table menu and select Convert, followed by Text to table and finally OK. In Word 2007, use the Insert ribbon, select Table, then click Convert Text to Table.