Introduction

Microsoft Word 2013 is the latest release of the world’s number one word processing program. I know what you’re thinking, “ugh, another product version I have to relearn.” Having mixed feelings about any software program that offers new and improved features is not uncommon. On one hand, seeing what sort of changes Microsoft has made to the program is exciting, but on the other hand, learning it all over again might mean more time and effort on your part. Don’t worry—whether you’re a new user or a seasoned pro, you can get up and running fast with this latest version of Word with a little help from the book you’re holding.

I’ll explain everything. In fact, it will seem like I’m practically there beside you going over each feature. You’ll be particularly happy to know we take regular snack breaks along the way. I am a big proponent of snack breaks, as long as you wipe up your sticky keyboard. As your own personal computer tutor, I’ll show you how to utilize all the major features available in Word to help tackle different tasks you might experience at home, at work, or on the go. Whether you want to type up a company memo or build a grade “A” research paper, in this book you learn where to find what you need and make it work for you. We can all certainly pontificate ‘til the cows come home about what a wonderful and powerful program Word is, but you just want to get your work done, so why not have a little fun along the way?

Who This Book Is For

Obviously, the first thing to figure out is whether this book is for you or not. You’re in luck—I wrote it just for you. How can you be so sure? This book is for you if…

• You need to learn how to use Word’s new tools and features fast without wading through a lot of exposition.

• You want easy-to-understand examples and instructions to help you see exactly what’s going on with your own computer screen.

• You’re curious to know how to start using all the cloud storage and cloud computing features now available to all Microsoft Word users and interested others.

• You’re brand-spanking new to Word and not as confident as you would like to be using a word processing program.

• You’re a long-time Word user and you need to find out what changed between the previous version of Word and this latest version.

• You want to learn all about Word without being bored to tears and/or potentially missing any snack breaks.

How This Book Is Organized

Microsoft Word 2013 Absolute Beginner’s Guide is divided into six parts.

Part I, “Word Basics,” introduces all the fundamental information you need to find your way around the new program window and its tools, plus set up your Microsoft account. That’s right, you use an account now to access all that Microsoft has to offer online, all from within the Word program window.

Part II, “Building Simple Documents,” shows you how to start creating documents, saving them to your cloud storage or on your computer, building documents out of templates, and using the various methods for adding text.

Part III, “Making Documents Look Impressive,” introduces you to all the formatting tools you can apply to your documents to make them look polished and professional. Learn how to assign attributes to text, paragraphs, and entire pages, including changing fonts and sizes, controlling text positioning, and applying styles and themes.

Part IV, “Adding Visual Elements with Tables, Charts, and Graphics,” shows you how to start inserting all kinds of illustrative elements into your documents, including building tables, diagrams, and adding pictures. You also learn how to draw your own artwork using shapes and snazzy text art.

Part V, “Using Specialized Word Tools,” covers all the nifty features for working with longer types of documents, such as footnotes and bookmarks. This part of the book also demonstrates how to utilize proofing tools and how to print out your pages when everything’s ready to commit to paper.

Wait—that’s not all! There’s a whole other part of the book waiting for you online! That’s right, it’s a bonus section just because readers like you deserve more (plus, there’s so much stuff to tell you about Word, I couldn’t fit it all into this book). Visit http://www.quepublishing.com/title/9780789750907 to learn how to share your Word documents with others, including how to collaborate with Word’s tracking and revision tools, how to share your Word content over the Internet as well as bring Internet content into your documents. Yes, it’s the book that keeps on giving!

Conventions Used in This Book

Microsoft Word 2013 Absolute Beginner’s Guide uses a number of conventions to provide you with special information. These include the following elements:

So in summation, Microsoft Word 2013 Absolute Beginner’s Guide is beautifully tailored to help you master this latest version of Word with minimal tediousness and maximum enjoyment. Go grab your favorite snack and let’s not waste a moment more—you have word processing stuff to learn.

Bonus coverage available FREE on the World Wide Web!

• Share Word content online and integrate web content into your documents

• Access and edit your documents from anywhere through SkyDrive

Bonus chapters may be found on the Que product page http://www.quepublishing.com/title/9780789750907 within the “Downloads” tab.