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What is Microsoft Word? What is MS word? What is Microsoft Word used for?

What is Microsoft Word?

What is MS word?
What is Microsoft Word used for?

What is Microsoft Word? Not to sound clichéd, but the answer might surprise you. Everyone seems to think they know until you ask them. You have questions, questions which need answering, so for both the long and the short explanation, keep reading.

  What is Microsoft Word?
                    What is MS word?
                    What is Microsoft Word used for?


  • What is Microsoft Word (the short answer)?

  • What is Microsoft Word (the slightly longer answer)?

  • Wait, What is a Word Processor, Define “Word Processor”?

  • What is Microsoft Word used for? What can I do with it?

  • What are Some More Features of Microsoft Word?

  • The History of Microsoft Word and its Versions

  • Why You Should Know How to Use Word and How to Learn More


  • What is Microsoft Word (the short answer)?

Microsoft Word is planet Earth’s most popular word processor.



  • What is Microsoft Word (the slightly longer answer)?

Also known as “MS Word”, “WinWord”, and (most commonly) just “Word”, Microsoft Word is the word processor included with the Microsoft Office software suite. It’s a flagship Microsoft product, found in schools and offices across the world, and has versions for both Mac and Windows PC. So ubiquitous is Word’s usage, even its active competitors are typically referred to as “Word alternatives”, and to claim computer literacy at any level is to imply at least a basic proficiency with Word.

So yes, Word is a word processor, but that’s not all it is, it’s capable of a lot more than just the features common to all software in this category. If you’re feeling left out, you’re on the right site to learn everything you could ever want to know about using this indispensable, versatile piece of software. Word 2010 Tutorials & Tests. Word 2016 Tutorials & Tests.



  • Wait, What is a Word Processor, Define “Word Processor”?

Ask most people this question, and you’ll probably get a response along the lines of “programs like Word”.

A word processor is technically any program used for the production, storage and printing of pages of writing. This is a tremendously broad description, and, in modern parlance, a word processor needs to at least include options for:

  • Choosing fonts, styles and otherwise formatting text
  • Altering the print layout
  • Previewing the document prior to printing
  • Checking and correcting spelling and grammar
  • Placement of images to be printed alongside the text

One way of thinking about it would be to say that a word processor is an application which combines all the functions necessary to create, store, view and print documents.



  • What is Microsoft Word used for? What can I do with it?

It can be easy to write Word off as simply being a word processor, as if the term word processor didn’t already describe a tremendously complex piece of software. In its capacity as a word processor, Word can be used to create anything as small as a business card to novels containing thousands of pages.

What is Microsoft Word used for? What can I do with it?

Aside from text, Word has (not so) basic table features, complete with functions, similar to spreadsheets such as Excel, making it perfectly suited to tasks like invoicing. Speaking of Excel, Word is able to import live spreadsheet data and represent said data as charts which update to always match the source, perfect for reporting. Combined with Word’s mail merge function, this ability to work with external data allows for things that need their own article to properly describe.

Furthermore, Word has extensive support for creating and representing graphics and diagrams, as well as allowing you to import these from its more specialised cousins in the broader Microsoft Office suite. These functions can be leveraged to produce anything from custom birthday cards to world class promotional material for your business.

Indeed, on top of all these built-in features, Word’s Developer tab allows you to write and embed your own code, allowing anything from basic automation to full-on application development. Honestly, at this “mad science” level of expertise, it is generally more appropriate to ask yourself whether you should use Word to do something than whether you can.



  • What are Some More Features of Microsoft Word?

As you may have gathered by now, describing Word as “feature rich” is a lot like saying Bill Gates is “wealthy” – an almost criminally misleading understatement. An exhaustive list of features is unfortunately beyond the scope of any single article, however noteworthy additions which have made their way into the latest versions include:

  • built-in dictation functionality
  • language translation
  • the ability to “transform” documents into cross-device compatible Microsoft Sway web pages
  • embedding 3D models and online videos
  • an integrated store for add-ins, allowing expanded functionality from third party service providers
  • LinkedIn integration for streamlined CV (resumé) creation
  • integration with Microsoft’s cloud storage facility and an AutoSave option to ensure you never lose your work

Invaluable features, which have been staples of Word for several versions, include:

  • exporting to PDF and XPS documents
  • facilities allowing easy access to a wealth of professional templates
  • the ability to create your own document templates
  • customizable styles (which greatly simplify the task of keeping your document’s formatting consistent)
  • change tracking features
  • macros


  • The History of Microsoft Word and its Versions

The history of Microsoft Word dates to 1981, when Microsoft head-hunted Charles Simonyi (the co-creator of the first electronic word processor to implement a graphical user interface) to start their applications group. The first version of what would come to be known as Word was released in 1983. The product was designed to capitalize on a newly invented peripheral, the computer mouse.


The History of Microsoft Word


This decision resulted in slow initial adoption, as Word’s user interface was perceived as too radically different to market leaders of the time. However, the slowness of competitors to match this innovation eventually allowed Word to catapult to first place, and it has faced no serious threat to its dominance since. In fact, the Microsoft Office suite has grown to become the single largest source of revenue for Microsoft.


The History of Microsoft Word and its Versions


Throughout this time, Microsoft has released numerous versions of Word on various platforms. Full-featured versions are available for Windows and MacOS, scaled down versions can be installed on iOS and Android devices, and a simplified cloud-based version is available to use, free of charge, on any HTML 5.0 compatible browser.



  • Why You Should Know How to Use Word and How to Learn More

You should already be convinced of the value of knowing at least a little Microsoft Word. Whatever your use case, whether you’re a teenager needing to type up assignments for school, a corporate high-flyer whose PA took a personal day, or an octogenarian writing their family newsletter for the grandchildren, Microsoft Word will boost your productivity.

And, no matter your current level of proficiency, there’s almost certainly some life-altering functionality you haven’t yet stumbled upon.

Worry not young padawan, you’re in the right place to turbo-charge your Microsoft Word experience. Free Online Word 2010 Tutorials & Tests. Free Online Word 2016 Tutorials & Tests.




* WORD RESOURCES AND ARTICLES

What MS Word Training is best for you? Quiz

What Version of MS Word are you using?

What is MS Word? ~ How to use MS Word

FREE Online Microsoft Word Tutorials with corresponding FREE Online Excel Tests

Read an Introduction to Word Training & MOS Exams here

Top 10 Microsoft Word Templates you should try today




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