To format paragraphs, use the Paragraph dialog box (Alt+H, PG). Text alignment, indents, line spacing, line breaks, and paragraph breaks can all be formatted. You don't have to pick a paragraph to format it; simply click to insert the insertion point within one. Then, using either the mouse or keyboard, perform your task.
The mouse lets you quickly move the insertion point to any location within the text and then click to start formatting. Use these steps:
1. Select the text you want to format. Press and hold the left mouse button down while dragging through the text.
2. Release the left mouse button when you see the pop-up menu. Choose one of the options from this list: Left, Right, Center, Justify, Abutting, or None.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to place additional insertion points and format other areas of the text.
The keyboard is easier to use because you don't need to drag the insertion point. Simply press the "Enter" key after typing the first letter of the text element you want to format. Word will assume you mean that element. All subsequent letters you type will add further formatting options until you press the "Enter" key again.
This method is faster than using the mouse because you're not moving your cursor around the document.
Choose the paragraph or paragraphs to format. Click the Line and Paragraph Spacing command on the Home tab. The document will provide a live preview of the paragraph spacing. You can also click in the text box and use the cursor keys on your keyboard to set the spacing.
The paragraph formatting settings under the Indents and Spacing tab of the Paragraph dialog box are organized into three groups: General, Indentation, and Spacing. These paragraph formatting choices are covered in the following sections.
Individual paragraphs can be styled using paragraph formatting. You may, for example, modify the text alignment from left to center or the line spacing from single to double. You may indent, number, or apply borders and shading to paragraphs.
Place your cursor anywhere in the paragraph. Right-click the usual style on the Home tab and select Modify. Select Format, followed by Paragraph. Select First line under Indentation on the Indents and Spacing menu. Type 0 spaces to indent the first line of text.
Formatting is a two-step procedure, regardless of approach. To begin, pick the text you wish to format in Word. After that, format it. Alternatively, you may set up your formatting preferences first and then start typing. The latter method is easier but not essential.
The first step in formatting text is to select it. You can only format selected text. If there is no selection, nothing will be formatted.
The easiest way to select some text is by using the keyboard. Press the Ctrl key (or Command on Mac) followed by one of the selection tool keys (the V, B, or T button). These buttons work like magic tools; they select text based on what's under the cursor, within the document. For example, if you click in the document body and then press the V button, all the text in the document that's in viewable area of the screen (including footnotes and endnotes) is selected.
You can also select text by clicking inside any paragraph mark (described later in this chapter). This automatically selects the entire paragraph. Finally, you can select text by using the mouse. Click inside any paragraph mark to enter selection mode. Then simply right-click/control-click anywhere in the document body and choose Select Text from the menu.
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