Microsoft Word 2007/2008: Editing a Document (Win/Mac)

Editing a Document

Once you have created a Word document and typed some text, you may want to edit your work by adding, moving, or deleting text. This document covers the basic editing functions of selecting, moving, and deleting text as well as shows you how to use the Undo and Redo commands.

• Editing Basics
• Selecting Text
• Making Multiple Selections
• Using Drag and Drop
• Deleting Text

Editing Basics

Insertion Point and Pointers

The blinking vertical line located in the window is the insertion point. As you type, keyed text will appear to the left of the insertion point.
If you move the mouse, it is the pointer that moves on screen. The pointer can appear in several ways. Four of the most common are discussed here.

Pointer	Description
	When the pointer moves over the page, it looks like an I-beam. When you click the mouse button, the insertion point is placed to the left of the I-beam pointer
	When the pointer moves over specific formatting areas, the following icons appear under the insertion point: align left, align right, center, left indent, left text wrap, and right text wrap. The text you type in that formatting area will appear in the format that corresponds to the icon
	When the pointer moves over the Ribbon, it takes the shape of an arrow pointing up and to the left. Clicking the mouse button once over a command tab or command tab option will select that option
	When the pointer moves past the left margin of the text on the page, it takes the shape of an arrow pointing up and to the right. Clicking the mouse button at this point will select that line of text. To select the entire paragraph, double click

Typing Features

As you start on your document, you should be aware of some typing features in Word.

Word Wrap
Text is wrapped at the end of each line and continues on the next line; you do not have to press [Enter] or [Return]
NOTE: This feature will not split up individual words that appear on the end of each line. Instead it will move the entire word to the next line.
Delete Character
Windows: The [Backspace] key moves the insertion point to the left one space at a time, eliminating text or space. The [Delete] key eliminates text or space to the right of the insertion point and keeps the insertion point stationary.
Macintosh: The [delete] key moves the insertion point to the left one space at a time, eliminating text or space. The [del] key eliminates text or space to the right of the insertion point and keeps the insertion point stationary.
Arrow Keys
The arrow keys move the insertion point up or down one line at a time and left or right one space at a time. The arrow keys do not delete; they allow you to position the insertion point exactly where you want it. This is especially helpful for inserting text into different parts of your document

Using the Undo Command

If text was accidentally deleted or if there was some type of editing mistake, you may be able to reverse the last action using the Undo command. If your last action cannot be reversed, the option will read Cannot Undo.

Using the Undo Command: Keyboard Option

1. Windows: Press [Ctrl] + [Z]
   Macintosh: Press [command] + [Z]
   Your last action is reversed.

Using the Undo Command: Ribbon and Standard Toolbar Option

1. To undo your last action,
   Windows: On the Quick Access Toolbar, click UNDO
   Macintosh: On the Standard Toolbar, click UNDO

2. To undo multiple actions,
   1. Windows: On the Quick Access Toolbar, click theto the right of the UNDO button
      Macintosh: On the Standard Toolbar, click theto the right of the UNDO button
   2. Select the action(s) to undo
      The selected action(s) are reversed.
      HINT: To locate the desired action to undo, use the scroll bar.
      WARNING: When you undo an action, you also undo all actions above it in the list.

Using the Redo Command: Ribbon and Standard Toolbar Option

1. To redo your last action,
   Windows: On the Quick Access Toolbar, click REDO
   Macintosh: On the Standard Toolbar, click REDO

Selecting Text

Selecting text is a basic editing function used in Word. In most cases, text must be selected before it can be formatted. Once your text is selected, you can format, cut, copy, or paste your text; for more information, refer to Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Text. For example, by selecting specific text you can change the font size of only the selected text.
Several methods are available for selecting text. Use the option that is most convenient for you or use the technique that best fits your task. Keyboard shortcuts can also be used to select text. For more information, refer to Keyboard Shortcuts.
HINT: If a block of text is selected, any new text typed will replace the selected text. To restore the original text, refer to Using the Undo Command.

Selecting Text: Lines

1. Move the insertion point to the left side of the document until it turns into an arrow
2. To select a single line of text, click the mouse button once
   To select multiple lines of text, click and drag to select the desired lines
   The line(s) of text is selected.

Selecting Text: Specific Areas

HINT: If the text is near the left margin, it may be easier to start by selecting the last letter of the desired text.

1. Place the I-beam to the left of the beginning of the desired text
2. Click and hold the mouse button
3. Drag the mouse over the text to be selected
4. Release the mouse button
   The text is selected.

Selecting Text: Single Words

1. Place the I-beam over the word to be selected
2. Double click the mouse button
   The word is selected.

Selecting Text: Single Paragraphs

1. Place the I-beam over the paragraph to be selected
2. Triple click the mouse button
   The paragraph is selected.

Selecting Text: Multiple Paragraphs

1. Place the I-beam at the beginning of the text to be selected
2. Press and hold [Shift]
3. Click at the end of the text to be selected
   All text between the two points is selected.

Selecting Text: Entire Document

1. To select the entire text of the document,
   Windows: From the Home command tab, in the Editing group, click SELECT» select Select All
   Macintosh: From the Edit menu, select Select All
   ORWindows: Press [Ctrl] + [A]
   Macintosh: Press [command] + [A]
   All text is selected.

To deselect text:

1. Click the mouse button anywhere outside or inside the selected text area

Making Multiple Selections

You can make multiple, non-contiguous selections of text in your document. This is helpful for formatting multiple selections at one time.

Making Multiple Selections: Click and Drag

1. Make the initial text selection
2. To make additional selections,
   Windows: Press [Ctrl] and click and drag
   Macintosh: Press [command] and click and drag
3. OPTIONAL: To exclude (drop) one of your selections,
   Windows: While pressing [Ctrl], click the selection you want to deselect
   Macintosh: While pressing [command], click the selection you want to deselect

Making Multiple Selections: Find and Replace Dialog Box

The Muiltiple Selections feature can also aid you when you want to find and select all occurrences of specific text without searching for all instances manually.

1. Windows: From the Home command tab, in the Find group, click FIND
   Macintosh: From the Edit menu, select Find...
   OR
   Windows: Press [Ctrl] + [F]
   Macintosh: Press [command] + [F]
   The Find and Replace dialog box appears.
   
2. Select the Find tab
3. In the Find what text box, type the text to be selected
4. Windows: Click FIND IN » select the document area to be searched
   Macintosh: Select Highlight all items, then click» select the document area to be searched
5. Click FIND NEXT
   ORClick FIND ALL
6. Click CLOSE
   You are returned to your document.
   All occurrences of the desired text are selected.

Using Drag and Drop

Drag and Drop is another option for moving blocks of text. This option is best for moving text short distances. Because you use the mouse, Drag and Drop text is never placed on the Clipboard. As you are dragging the text, a gray insertion point appears. When you let go of the mouse button, the text drops in that location.

Using Drag and Drop: Moving Text

1. Select the text to be moved
   NOTE: For more information, refer to Selecting Text.
2. Click on the text and hold the mouse button
3. Drag the text to the desired location
   HINT: The insertion line will indicate where the text will be dropped.
4. To drop the text, release the mouse button
   The text is moved.
   HINT: If you dropped the text in the wrong spot, refer to Using the Undo Command.

Using Drag and Drop: Moving Copied Text

1. Select the text to be copied
   NOTE: For more information, refer to Selecting Text.
2. Windows: Press and hold the [Ctrl] key
   Macintosh: Press and hold the [option] key
3. Click on the text and hold the mouse button
4. Drag the text to the desired location
   HINT: The insertion line will indicate where the text will be dropped.
5. Windows: To drop the text, release the mouse button and the [Ctrl] key
   Macintosh: To drop the text, release the mouse button and the [option] key
   The text is copied to the new location.
   HINT: If you copied the text to the wrong spot, refer to Using the Undo Command.

Deleting Text

You can delete anything from a few characters to several pages of text. You can also restore deleted text using the Undo command.

Deleting Text: Characters

1. Place the insertion point to the right of the text to be deleted
2. Windows: Press [Backspace] as many times as needed
   Macintosh: Press [delete] as many times as needed
   The desired character(s) is deleted.

Deleting Text: Type Over

1. Select the text to be replaced
   NOTE: For more information, refer to Selecting Text.
2. Begin typing
   The selected text is deleted and replaced with what you type.

Deleting Text: A Line or Block of Text

1. Select the text to be deleted
   NOTE: For more information, refer to Selecting Text.
2. Press [Backspace] or [Delete]
   The selected text is deleted.

To retrieve deleted text:

1. Windows: From the Quick Access Toolbar, click UNDO
   Macintosh: On the Standard Toolbar, click UNDO

 

 

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