The Office app combines the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps you know and rely on, with new capabilities that harness the unique strengths of a phone to create a simpler, yet more powerful Office experience on the go. Whether using it for personal or professional reasons, the Office app is designed to be your go-to app for getting work done on a mobile device. Key Features Word, Excel,. Collaborate for free with an online version of Microsoft Word. Save documents in OneDrive. Share them with others and work together at the same time.
Sometimes called Winword, MS Word, or Word, Microsoft Word is a word processor published by Microsoft. It is one of the office productivity applications included in the Microsoft Office suite. Originally developed by Charles Simonyi and Richard Brodie, it was first released in 1983.
Microsoft Word is available for Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, Android, and Apple iOS. It can also run on the Linux operating system using WINE.
What is Microsoft Word used for?
Microsoft Word allows you to create professional-quality documents, reports, letters, and résumés. Unlike a plain text editor, Microsoft Word has features including spell check, grammar check, text and font formatting, HTML support, image support, advanced page layout, and more.
What does the Microsoft Word editor look like?
Below is an overview of a Microsoft Word 2010 document.
TipSee our Ribbon page for further information on the Ribbon. For an overview of the items contained on the Ribbon, see: Overview of the Microsoft Office Ribbon.
Where do you find or start Microsoft Word?
If you have Microsoft Word or the entire Microsoft Office package installed on Microsoft Windows, you can find Microsoft Word in your Start menu.
Keep in mind that new computers do not include Microsoft Word. It must be purchased and installed before running it on your computer. If you do not want (or cannot afford) to purchase Microsoft Word, you can use a limited version for free at the Microsoft Office website.
NoteThere are also free word processing programs you can try that are very similar to Microsoft Word. See: Where can I get a free word processor?
If Microsoft Word is installed on your computer, but you can't find it in your Start menu, use the following steps to launch Microsoft Word manually.
- Open My Computer.
- Click on or select the C: drive. If Microsoft Office is installed on a drive other than the C: drive, select that drive instead.
- Navigate to the Program Files (x86) folder, then the Microsoft Office folder.
- In the Microsoft Office folder, if there is a root folder, open that folder. Then open the OfficeXX folder, where XX is the version of Office (e.g., Office16 for Microsoft Office 2016). If there is no root folder, look for and open a folder having 'Office' in the name.
- Look for a file named WINWORD.EXE and click or double-click that file to start the Microsoft Word program.
What are the uses of Microsoft Word?
Microsoft Word is a word processor, and, like other word processors, it's capable of helping users create a variety of different types of documents. For example, users can create a résumé, business contract, instruction document, or a letter to another person. We've included a list of the top uses of a word processor on our word processor page.
How many lines are there on a page in Microsoft Word?
By default, there are 29 lines on one page in Microsoft Word.
What type of files can Microsoft Word create and use?
Early versions of Microsoft Word primarily created and used the .docfile extension, while newer versions of Word create and use the .docx file extension.
More recent versions of Microsoft Word can create and open the following types of files:
- .doc, .docm, .docx
- .dot, .dotm, .dotx
- .htm, .html
- .mht, .mhtml
- .odt
- .rtf
- .txt
- .wps
- .xps
- .xml
Example of a Microsoft Word .doc file
You can download an example of a Microsoft Word .doc document by clicking the Microsoft Word .doc file link.
Why use Word instead of a plain-text editor?
Microsoft Word offers many features not found in a traditional text editor or a plain-text file. Reasons to use Microsoft Word instead of a plain-text editor include the ability to change the formatting (e.g., center), change the font type, size, and color, insert pictures, and much more.
TipThe features above are also available in a rich-text editor, such as WordPad, which is included with Microsoft Windows.
Why use Word instead of a WordPad?
Microsoft Word Free Download
A rich-text editor, like WordPad, offers many of the same basic features as Microsoft Word. Where Microsoft Word differs is the ability to do more advanced features. Some of the advanced features include mail merges, spellchecker, styles, tables, headers & footers, WordArt, columns, margins, and more.
What are the different versions of Microsoft Word?
Microsoft Word has had several versions throughout its history. The different releases, along with release dates are listed below.
Windows versions
- Word 2019, released in 2018
- Word 2016, released in 2016
- Word 2013, released in 2013
- Word 2010, released in 2010
- Word 2007, released in 2006
- Word 2003, released in 2003
- Word 2002, released in 2001
- Word 2000, released in 1999
- Word 98, released in 1998
- Word 97, released in 1997
- Word 95, released in 1995
- Word 6.0, released in 1993
- Word 2.0, released in 1991
- Word 1.1, released in 1990
- Word 1.0, released in 1989
Mac versions
- Word 2019, released in 2018
- Word 2016, released in 2015
- Word 2011, released in 2010
- Word 2008, released in 2008
- Word 2004, released in 2004
- Word v. X, released in 2001
- Word 2001, released in 2000
- Word 98, released in 1998
- Word 6, released in 1993
- Word 5.1, released in 1992
- Word 5, released in 1991
- Word 4, released in 1989
- Word 3, released in 1987
- Word 1, released in 1985
Microsoft Word Free
Related pages
Desktop publishing, Editor, Google Docs, Office, Office 365, Office Online, Software terms, WordPad, Word processor, Word processor terms
Word is one of the most popular and commonly used products from Microsoft Corporation. The latest version of Microsoft Word integrates well with Microsoft Office 365 and serves as a full-fledged document processing software. With the program, you can type, publish, and edit documents in real-time. Microsoft Word comes with improved features but retains the original layout for ease of use. It runs on Windows 10 and above, and is also available for Mac, Android, and iOS devices.
Create high-quality documents with ease!
If you’ve been using a Windows PC, it’s likely that you’re already familiar with Microsoft Word. For document processing, typing, publishing, and editing, Word has been the standard program in Windows devices.
In recent years, it has received some tough competition from Google Docs. However, the veteran word processing software has been able to retain a strong fan following. The simple interface, plenty of features, and integration with Microsoft Office 365 products make Word an excellent choice.
Is Microsoft Word easy to use?
While programs like Trio Office come with a simple interface, Microsoft Word’s ribbon interface has been hugely popular among Windows users. For many years, it has been able to give Word a relevant and fresh look, while most of the computing world made a radical shift to the web and mobile devices.
The only drawback is that some labels and icons might confuse users who aren’t familiar with Microsoft Office, OneDrive, or similar products. But if you’ve always been a Windows user, you’d find it easy to navigate through the program. With the latest version of the program, the interface remains uncluttered and clean.
Microsoft Word comes with the ‘Tell me what you want to do’ feature, which is quite useful for beginners and veterans alike. It acts as an ‘assistant’ and allows you to save a good amount of time. While it won’t be wrong to say that the interface could do with some improvements, Microsoft has done a good job of offering a range of features without much complexity.
Can you work in real-time with Microsoft Word?
With Microsoft Word, you can continue to work in real-time, at least with the full version. Considering the increasing adoption of online word processing software and tools, Microsoft has tried to introduce some significant improvements to the program. With the original layout, you get better integration with Microsoft Office 365, which lets you work in the Cloud.
Since you’re able to work in real-time, editing is much easier with Word. The program makes it easier to collaborate with several people simultaneously and lets you view edits or changes in real-time. Microsoft Word keeps storing progress and automatically updates the document smoothly and efficiently.
Does Microsoft Word feature a translator?
With the all-new translation tool, you can break a wide range of language barriers. The feature allows you to translate several phrases or even the entire page into a different language.
This saves you from the trouble of using third-party translation software. Within a couple of clicks, you can set the language to any of the ones available in the program’s huge accessory pack. This lets you share a polished document without any grammatical or spelling errors.
Does Microsoft Word offer any additional features?
For a lot of people, reading long text can be straining and tedious. With Microsoft Word, you can use several interesting features, such as spacing adjustment, page color changes, etc. This gives your eyes a much-needed break. Moreover, Word can read the text, ensuring you don’t have to indulge in tiring and long reading sessions.
Word integrates perfectly with Microsoft Office 2019, and leverages features like 3D image concerts and LaTex, which turn the program into a powerful learning tool. With 3D models, you can bring your projects and content to life, and can even write formulas. While these features may be overwhelming for beginners, they’re quite useful for veteran users.
Our take
Microsoft Word is an excellent document processing software. It goes beyond the usual programs available online. Moreover, the regular updates have transformed Word into a full-fledged collaboration and learning tool.
The integration with Microsoft Office 365 is an additional benefit. The Enterprise version can be used by small businesses, while there’s a dedicated subscription for students. Undoubtedly, this is one of the most ideal choices among word processing apps.
Should you download it?
Yes, definitely! Microsoft Word is the perfect choice for Windows PCs. With minimum hassles and a simple interface, you can use a wide range of features to leverage real-time editing, translation, and automatic updates. The program is also available for other operating systems.
2019