13 Hidden Microsoft Word Tips Revealed

Microsoft Word is a wonderful word-processor. Microsoft has been enhancing the features of Word to make it more user-friendly ever since it was launched way back in 1983.

Almost everyone uses MS Word at work or for personal tasks. Don’t you think that we should know a few Word tricks to become proficient enough to save our time and increase our productivity?

So, we thought of discussing some useful and lesser known features of Microsoft Word. Here you go.

1. Highlight an Entire Sentence With a Click –

For highlighting an entire sentence, you need to click on a word while pressing Ctrl key. Replace Ctrl Key with Command Key, if using Mac.

2. Translate in a Single Click –

Sometimes, you need to write/read in a language you are not familiar with. Word has a solution to your problem. You can translate the document in a go.

Click on Review tab and select Translate. You will get options like Translate Document, Translate Selected Text, Mini Translator and Choose Translation Language. You can choose accordingly.

3. Inspect Document –

To access Inspect Document:

Click on File > Info > Inspect Document > Check for Issues > You will see three options-Inspect Document, Check Accessibility and Check Compatibility

Click on Inspect Document, Document Inspector dialog box will open, select the check boxes to choose the types of hidden content that you want to inspect.

Click Inspect.

Review the results of the inspection in the Document Inspector dialog box.

Click Remove All to remove the hidden data or personal information that you want to remove from your document.

4. Hide Text –

Hidden Text is a non-printing character attribute and it is very useful. You can hide confidential information temporarily and print the document in two versions one with the whole text and the other with the hidden information. Follow these steps to hide the text and print the hidden text –

 Select the text you want to hide.

  Right click on the text and select Font > Select the Hidden check box.

To print Hidden Text

Go to the File tab > Options > Display > Select the Hidden text check box > Select the Print hidden text check box > Click Ok.

5. Check for Editing Hotspots

Want to see what changes you have made to your document quickly? Then use this shortcut. Press Shift + F5 and hop around to check the recent edits.

6. Write Text Anywhere –

Word can be used as a blackboard/whiteboard, as you can start writing on it from anywhere on the page. All you need to do is click on the spot twice and a cursor will appear there.

7. Highlight a Square Field of Text –

If you want to select a certain area on a document, say, you want to select text in a shape of a square field, hold the Alt key and click and drag your mouse on the area you wish to select.

8. Use Find and Replace for Graphics

Just like the word or phrases can be replaced in a document, graphics can be too. For that, follow these steps:

• Press Ctrl + F key, Navigation pane will appear at the left-hand side.
• Under Navigation, besides the Search Document box, you will get a drop-down menu.
• Select Graphics.
• Now, Copy the image, which you want to replace with the image.
• Click on drop-down menu again and select Replace, Find and Replace box will open.
• Type ^g in Find what and ^c in Replace with.

The image will be replaced.

9. How to Split a Document into Two Windows

If you are working on a lengthy document and you are moving back and forth to make changes on it, it would be time-consuming. So, to save your time and work efficiently, you can split the document into two. To split the document in two:

Click on View > Split

To resize the panes, drag the border.

10. Nobody Likes Distraction

When you are working on an important document, you would not like to get distracted. You get the word screen all to yourselves, by pressing Ctrl + F1 to remove the ribbon view. To customize ribbon view, you can click on Ribbon Display Options (it is at the top right-hand corner near minimize window button). To enter the read mode, you can Press ALT W-F. Choose the options and work on Word without any interruption.

11. Convert Tables to Graphs in 3-Steps

Visuals are better than data anytime and any day. So, this quick tip will help you convert your data to graphs to make it more expressive and impressive. Follow these steps:

• Click on Insert tab on the Ribbon.
• Click the Object tool and Object dialog box will open.
• Choose Microsoft Graph Chart from the list of Object Types. Click OK.

12. Write Equations

Word is for all, whether a writer or a scientist. You can easily write the equations and formulas on it. All you need to do is

• Click on Insert tab on the Ribbon
• Go to Equation and from the drop down menu, insert an equation.

13. Add a Calculator

Working on something that needs an arithmetic calculation and you too lazy to open the native Calculator app? Not to worry, Word has got it covered.

• Locate File on Ribbon.
• Click on Options > Quick Access Toolbar, switch to All Commands instead of Popular Commands and click on the Calculate Command to add to the Quick Access Toolbar.
• Now you will see a gray circle near save and undo buttons (located at the top left hand-side corner)

These are a few hacks that could make your work a lot easier on Word. Let us know what do you think!