How to Write a Letter Using Manual Formatting in MS Word 2007
Microsoft Word 2007
Microsoft Word 2007 may look and feel much different than previous versions, but don’t be alarmed. The changes to it are largely aesthetic. The core functions of the program remain the same, and it even includes new features and toolbars to make accomplishing your word processing tasks even simpler.
If you are new to word processing, or to MS Word 2007, this is one of many tutorials to help you get your bearings. Let’s start with a very simple task to help familiarize you with some of the tools and functions of the program.
Writing a Letter Using Manual Formatting
Nothing is required of you in order to begin your letter. When MS Word 2007 opens it defaults to a blank text document called “Document1”. Simply click in the top left corner and your cursor will appear. This is where you begin your letter. It is important to follow my directions exactly throughout this tutorial in order to learn about the features of the program, even if, at times, those directions break rules of spelling, grammar, or traditional format. There is always a reason behind it! Now, let’s get started.
1. Type your salutation in all lower-case letters. (i.e. dear jane).
2. Notice that Word auto-corrected the first letter of the first word, capitalizing it. However, you’ll also notice that the name of the person you are writing to was not capitalized, even though it should be. Word does not distinguish between names and normal words, and will, therefore, not correct mistakes of this kind.
3. Correct this mistake yourself by moving your cursor to just after the first letter of the person’s name, hitting backspace, then holding shift and typing the letter again. This time it results in a correct capital letter.
4. Move your cursor back to the end of your salutation and insert a comma, then hit the “Enter” button. This will begin a new paragraph for the content of your letter.
5. Hit the “Tab” key. It is located to the left of the “Q” key. This causes an indentation at the beginning of your paragraph.
6. Type the following: There are many things i would like to say to yuo.
7. Notice that, even though you typed many glaring spelling and capitalization errors, Word corrected them for you. A singular “i” will automatically be capitalized, and Word recognizes and fixes many different typographical errors, caused by hitting keys in the wrong sequence.
8. Delete the sentence that you just wrote by holding down the backspace button until it has been deleted, then type out a few sentences of what you would like to say to the recipient of your letter.
9. Once you have reached the point where you feel it would be good to start a new paragraph, hit the “Enter” key. Type the first sentence of your new paragraph.
10. You should notice two things. The first is that Word automatically indented your second paragraph, in essence, remembering your preferred formatting. The second is that, by default, Word 2007 puts a larger line space between paragraphs than it does between the lines within a paragraph.
11. Continue to type your letter until you are finished, using as many paragraphs as you wish.
12. When you reach the end of your letter, you will need to write a Complimentary Closing. This is, quite simply, the closing remark, such as “Sincerely”, or “Yours Truly”, etc.
13. Hit “Enter” like you’re starting a new paragraph and type your complimentary closing. End it with a comma.
14. Hit “Enter” again, then type your name. This concludes your manually formatted letter!
For more tips and tricks, be sure to browse through the other Microsoft Word tutorials and user guides available here at Bright Hub.
This post is part of the series: Microsoft Word 2007 Beginners Tutorial - Writing a Letter
In this series of articles we explore many aspects of writing a letter using Microsoft Word 2007. Learn how to produce letters manually, use and download templates, create your own templates from letters you have produced, and more.
