This course introduces Microsoft Word from the ground up, covering typing, editing, formatting, and publishing. It explains how to structure documents, improve readability, and work with graphics, tables, and styles. Advanced features like collaboration, mail merge, and customization are also explored.

Microsoft 365 Word For Dummies

Recommended experience
Recommended experience
What you'll learn
Create and manage Word documents with confidence and accuracy
Navigate long documents efficiently using Word tools
Apply character, paragraph, and page formatting correctly
Details to know

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October 2026
34 assignments
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There are 33 modules in this course
This module provides an introduction to Microsoft Word's interface, focusing on navigation, document views, and essential tools to improve productivity. Learners will discover how to customize the workspace and adjust document visibility for better usability.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
4 readings•Total 21 minutes
- Introduction•6 minutes
- Your First Word•5 minutes
- Showing and hiding the ribbon•5 minutes
- Making the document appear larger or smaller•5 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Navigating the Word Interface•16 minutes
This module introduces the fundamentals of typing and keyboard usage, focusing on improving efficiency and understanding common effects of typing in word processing. It covers basic keyboard functions, essential typing practices, and the visual behaviors that occur while typing in software like Microsoft Word.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
3 readings•Total 17 minutes
- Introduction•6 minutes
- Keyboard Do's and Don'ts•4 minutes
- Stuff That Happens While You Type•7 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Keyboard Functions and Document Tools•16 minutes
This module covers essential techniques for navigating documents efficiently, including scrolling, cursor movement, and using the Go To command to manage content effectively. Learners will gain practical skills for moving through documents with precision and ease.
What's included
1 video2 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
2 readings•Total 11 minutes
- Introduction•4 minutes
- Move the Insertion Pointer•7 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Document Navigation•16 minutes
This module focuses on essential text editing techniques, including removing text, formatting paragraphs, and using undo/redo commands. Learners will gain practical skills to enhance document clarity and efficiency. The content also explores the dual nature of paragraphs in both grammar and word processing.
What's included
1 video2 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
2 readings•Total 11 minutes
- Introduction•6 minutes
- Paragraph Playtime•5 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Text Editing Basics•16 minutes
This module covers advanced text search and replacement techniques in document editing, including case-sensitive searches, formatting changes, and handling non-typable characters. Learners will gain practical skills for efficiently modifying and managing text content using tools like Find and Replace.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
3 readings•Total 14 minutes
- Introduction•6 minutes
- Finding stuff you can't type•4 minutes
- The Replace Part•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Search and Replace Functions•16 minutes
This module covers essential text manipulation techniques in word processing, including selecting, copying, and moving text blocks. Learners will gain proficiency in using keyboard shortcuts and mouse actions to enhance document editing efficiency. The content also explores formatting adjustments and practical applications of text blocks.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
3 readings•Total 17 minutes
- Introduction•4 minutes
- Marking a block with the mouse•5 minutes
- Block Manipulation•8 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Text Manipulation in Word•16 minutes
This module explores the use of Microsoft Word's proofing tools, including AutoCorrect, grammar checking, and document settings. Learners will gain practical skills in improving document accuracy and customizing Word's features to suit their writing needs.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
4 readings•Total 16 minutes
- Introduction•4 minutes
- AutoCorrect in Action•4 minutes
- Grammar Be Good•4 minutes
- Document Proofing Settings•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Word's Spelling and Grammar Tools•16 minutes
This module covers the essential processes of creating, saving, and recovering documents. Learners will gain practical knowledge on how to manage documents efficiently using tools like OneDrive and AutoSave. The focus is on understanding the importance of document management in both personal and professional contexts.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
3 readings•Total 17 minutes
- Introduction•4 minutes
- Save Your Stuff!•5 minutes
- Saving automatically on OneDrive•8 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Working with Documents in Word•16 minutes
This module covers key techniques for publishing documents, including both print and electronic methods. Learners will gain practical skills in configuring duplex printing and sharing documents digitally. The focus is on understanding how to effectively release documents from digital formats to physical or electronic distribution.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
3 readings•Total 17 minutes
- Introduction•6 minutes
- Printing on both sides of the page•6 minutes
- Electronically Publishing Your Document•5 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Understanding Document Publication Processes•16 minutes
This module covers essential text formatting techniques in Microsoft Word, including font selection, size adjustment, and color application. Learners will gain practical skills to enhance the visual appeal and readability of their documents. The content also explores how to effectively apply these formatting tools in real-world scenarios.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
3 readings•Total 16 minutes
- Introduction•4 minutes
- Applying character formats•6 minutes
- More Colorful Text•6 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Character Formatting Fundamentals•16 minutes
This module covers the essential techniques for formatting paragraphs in Word, focusing on alignment, spacing, and indentation. Learners will gain the skills to enhance text readability and visual structure through proper paragraph organization. The content provides practical insights into managing text flow and formatting choices.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
3 readings•Total 16 minutes
- Introduction•6 minutes
- Make Room Before, After, or Inside Paragraphs•4 minutes
- Paragraph Indentation Madness•6 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Paragraph Formatting Basics•16 minutes
This module covers the use of tabs for text alignment, including how to adjust tab positions using the ruler and the Tabs dialog box. It also explains different types of tabs, such as center and decimal tabs, and how they are used in formatting text effectively.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
4 readings•Total 21 minutes
- Introduction•6 minutes
- Using the Tabs dialog box to set tabs•6 minutes
- The Center Tab Stop•4 minutes
- The Decimal Tab•5 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Tab Stops and Alignment•16 minutes
This module teaches learners how to customize page settings in digital documents, including adjusting size, orientation, margins, and formatting backgrounds. It also covers the use of page numbering with different formats like Roman numerals. Learners will gain practical skills in creating professionally formatted documents.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
4 readings•Total 20 minutes
- Introduction•6 minutes
- Using the Page Setup dialog box•6 minutes
- Numbering with Roman numerals•4 minutes
- Page Background Froufrou•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Document Layout and Design•16 minutes
This module covers essential techniques for managing document formatting through section breaks, header/footer customization, and page-specific settings. Learners will gain the ability to control layout and design with precision, enhancing the professionalism of their documents.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
4 readings•Total 20 minutes
- Introduction•6 minutes
- That First Page•5 minutes
- Creating a custom header or footer•4 minutes
- Working with multiple headers and footers•5 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Section Formatting in Documents•16 minutes
This module covers the effective use of styles in Microsoft Word, including how to apply, modify, and remove styles to maintain consistent document formatting. Learners will discover how to leverage style tips and tricks to enhance productivity and design efficiency. By the end, they will be able to manage styles with confidence in real-world scenarios.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
4 readings•Total 18 minutes
- Introduction•6 minutes
- Removing style formatting•5 minutes
- Modifying a style•3 minutes
- Style Tips and Tricks•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Document Style Formatting•16 minutes
This module explores how to use templates and themes to enhance document formatting, improve consistency, and boost efficiency in word processing. Learners will understand the role of templates in streamlining document creation and how themes provide a cohesive visual style. The module also covers customizing templates and applying themes to achieve professional results.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
3 readings•Total 13 minutes
- Introduction•5 minutes
- Templates of Your Own•4 minutes
- The Theme of Things•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Document Formatting with Templates and Themes•16 minutes
This module explores formatting tools and techniques that help streamline text organization and enhance document clarity. Learners will discover how to use automated formatting features effectively and understand their impact on document structure. The content focuses on improving efficiency and consistency in text formatting.
What's included
1 video2 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
2 readings•Total 12 minutes
- Introduction•4 minutes
- Automatic Formatting•8 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Word's AutoFormat and Text Customization•16 minutes
This module teaches how to effectively apply borders and lines in document design using Microsoft Word. Learners will explore essential tools like the Borders and Shading dialog box and understand how to enhance visual clarity through formatting techniques.
What's included
1 video2 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
2 readings•Total 10 minutes
- Introduction•5 minutes
- The Borders and Shading Dialog Box•5 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Border Features in Document Design•16 minutes
This module teaches learners how to efficiently create, modify, and convert tables in Microsoft Word. It covers essential formatting techniques, table structure adjustments, and the transition from tabbed text to structured tables. Learners will gain practical skills to enhance document organization and readability.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
3 readings•Total 17 minutes
- Introduction•5 minutes
- Converting a table to text•5 minutes
- Table Modification•7 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Table Features in Document Creation•16 minutes
This module covers the effective use of text columns in document design, including adjusting column breaks, formatting, and applying creative layout techniques to enhance readability and visual appeal.
What's included
1 video2 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
2 readings•Total 8 minutes
- Introduction•5 minutes
- Column Tricks•3 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Text Layout in Word Documents•16 minutes
This module teaches how to effectively structure documents using lists, tables of contents, and lists of figures in Microsoft Word. Learners will gain practical skills in organizing content for clarity and professionalism. The focus is on leveraging Word's tools to enhance document readability and functionality.
What's included
1 video2 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
2 readings•Total 15 minutes
- Introduction•6 minutes
- Document Content Lists•9 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Lists and References in Word•16 minutes
This module covers the fundamentals of working with graphics in Microsoft Word, including inserting, editing, and arranging images and shapes. Learners will gain practical skills in positioning, cropping, rotating, and grouping graphical elements to enhance document design. The content also highlights the limitations of Word's graphic tools and when to use external software for advanced editing.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
4 readings•Total 20 minutes
- Introduction•6 minutes
- Sticking things into a shape•5 minutes
- Image Editing•4 minutes
- Image Arrangement•5 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Graphics and Image Manipulation in Documents•16 minutes
This module explores the essential tools for inserting and formatting elements in documents, such as special characters, text boxes, and dynamic fields. It provides practical insights into how these features enhance document design and functionality. Learners will gain hands-on skills to effectively use these tools in real-world scenarios.
What's included
1 video2 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
2 readings•Total 13 minutes
- Introduction•5 minutes
- Spice Up a Document with a Text Box•8 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Word Document Elements•16 minutes
This module covers how to manage multiple documents in Word, view a single document across multiple windows, and work with various file formats. Learners will gain practical skills in organizing and manipulating documents efficiently in different scenarios.
What's included
1 video2 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
2 readings•Total 10 minutes
- Introduction•5 minutes
- Other Document Types•5 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Navigating Multiple Documents and File Formats•16 minutes
This module focuses on enhancing writing efficiency using Microsoft Word's outline view and keyboard shortcuts. Learners will discover how to organize content hierarchically, adjust topics, and apply time-saving techniques to improve workflow. The module also includes practical writing tips to refine language choices and structure.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
4 readings•Total 19 minutes
- Introduction•5 minutes
- Demoting and promoting topics•5 minutes
- Outline-Manipulation Shortcut Keys•5 minutes
- Dan's Writing Tips•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Document Structure and Formatting in Word•16 minutes
This module covers essential collaboration features in Microsoft Word, including commenting, revision tracking, and document comparison. Learners will gain practical skills for managing feedback and working effectively in team environments. The content provides step-by-step guidance on using these tools to enhance productivity and communication.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
3 readings•Total 13 minutes
- Introduction•4 minutes
- The Yellow Highlighter•5 minutes
- Reviewing changes•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Document Collaboration Tools•16 minutes
This module guides learners through the process of using mail merge in Microsoft Word, covering how to create and manage recipient lists, integrate data fields, and preview merged documents for efficient mass communication.
What's included
1 video5 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
5 readings•Total 21 minutes
- Introduction•5 minutes
- I. The Main Document•3 minutes
- II. The Recipient List•6 minutes
- Grabbing a recipient list from Outlook•3 minutes
- IV. Preview the Merged Documents•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mail Merge Fundamentals•16 minutes
This module teaches learners how to use Microsoft Word's built-in tools to create and print labels and envelopes efficiently. It covers mail merge techniques, configuration of address lists, and formatting envelope layouts for professional document workflows.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
3 readings•Total 10 minutes
- Introduction•3 minutes
- Printing an address list•4 minutes
- Instant Envelope•3 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Label and Envelope Management in Word•16 minutes
This module covers how to customize Microsoft Word interfaces to improve productivity. Learners will explore personalizing the Quick Access Toolbar, modifying the Ribbon, and using Add-Ins for enhanced functionality. The content provides practical skills for tailoring Word to individual preferences and needs.
What's included
1 video2 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
2 readings•Total 9 minutes
- Introduction•5 minutes
- Removing items from the Quick Access toolbar•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Word Customization Features•16 minutes
This module introduces learners to the integration of AI copilots in Microsoft Word, focusing on evaluating AI-generated content, ensuring accuracy, and properly citing AI sources for professional use.
What's included
1 video1 reading1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
1 reading•Total 5 minutes
- Meet Your Copilot - The Reading•5 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Navigating AI Assistance in Word•16 minutes
This module explores essential word processing techniques, including efficient page navigation, auto-save features, and legacy keyboard shortcuts. Learners will discover how to enhance productivity using time-saving functions and understand the evolution of interface designs in word processors.
What's included
1 video2 readings1 assignment
1 video
- Overview•0 minutes
2 readings•Total 10 minutes
- Introduction•4 minutes
- Ancient Word Keyboard Shortcuts•6 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Mastering Document Tools and Shortcuts•16 minutes
This module delves into the lesser-known and unusual features of Microsoft Word, highlighting how it extends beyond basic text editing to include advanced formatting and layout tools. Learners will discover how these features impact document design and usability. The content also covers practical aspects of managing hyphenation and other formatting elements.
What's included
1 video2 readings1 assignment
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
2 readings•Total 9 minutes
- Introduction•4 minutes
- Hyphenation•5 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
- Exploring Advanced Word Features•16 minutes
This module covers how to customize Microsoft Word by deactivating common but unwanted features. Learners will gain practical skills in improving document editing efficiency through text selection and workflow optimization techniques.
What's included
1 video1 reading2 assignments
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Overview•1 minute
1 reading•Total 6 minutes
- Ten Automatic Features Worthy of Deactivation - The Reading•6 minutes
2 assignments•Total 146 minutes
- The Microsoft 365 Word For Dummies Final Assessment•132 minutes
- Managing Unwanted Features in Word Processing•14 minutes
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