Summary
- What is Microsoft Word
- What are the main features of Microsoft Word?
- What are the new features of Microsoft Word?
- How can I download Microsoft Word?
- What are the free alternatives to Microsoft Word?
- Comments
Microsoft Word is word processing software that helps you write, edit and print your documents on your computer. This software also allows you to change the size and appearance of your characters and offers you the possibility to add illustrations to your texts. Word is available on PC, mobile (Android and iOS) and as an online service directly on the Internet.
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Note : ★★★★★★ (6439134 votes)Microsoft Corporation Developer | Updated on 24/11/2021
Download Microsoft Word: Write and Share Documents Direct APK DownloadWhat is Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word, officially Microsoft Office Word, is an interactive text editor and formatting language compiler from Microsoft, the US tech giant.
The first version of the software was released in 1983 and was intended for the Xenix operating system, a variant of Unix. The first version of Word for Windows appeared in 1989. Since then, Microsoft has regularly released an improved version of the software for various operating systems.
The latest version of Word is part of the software package called Microsoft Office 2021. This version is also included in the Microsoft 365 cloud subscription service.
Microsoft's popularity is well established and its Microsoft Office office suite continues to gain more and more followers. A report from 2021 presented by the firm also praises this success. According to this report, Office is used by more than 1,2 billion people worldwide and its Office 365 solution has more than 60 million users per month. The Office Mobile application was downloaded 340 million times during the same year.
The Word 2021 service is available on PC for Windows and Mac, but it also offers a mobile version for Android and iOS. In addition, a cloud version can be used on any device, landline or mobile, with an internet browser.
What are the main features of Microsoft Word?
Microsoft Word offers a host of features that allow you to create, edit, view, and share files with other users. Word is one of the most complete software in its category.
The main interface
All the functions of the software are found at the level of the main interface, more precisely at the level of the ribbon located at the top of the working window. This ribbon is structured into different categories, the menus, which group together the different tasks that you can perform with Word.
When you click on a particular menu, you will have access to the various functions offered by the software. One of the great things about Word is that it lets you customize this ribbon so that you have the most important functions you use on a regular basis.
Below the ribbon, you will find the input page on which you will obtain a visual rendering of the characters you type on the keyboard. Word is part of the so-called WYSIWIG (What You See Is What You Get) software. All text formatting or page layout operations will therefore be displayed in real time on the screen.
Home menu
This menu groups together all the software functions related to formatting. Through this menu, you can modify the font (size, texture, color, indexing of a text, etc.) for your entire document or for groups of words in particular.
The Home menu also allows you to adjust the alignment of a paragraph, define a background color for your text or simply change the spacing of characters, line spacing and different parts of your document.
The Insert menu
From the Insert menu, you will have the possibility to add images, figures, mathematical formulas or tables to illustrate your document. This menu also allows you to add page numbers, headers and footers as well as hypertext links to web pages.
This menu also allows you to access the Store Office gallery which groups together all the extensions available for Word. With the help of these extensions, you will be able to insert quotes, maps or royalty-free photos directly into your document without having to open your browser.
The Layout menu
This menu allows you to define the layout of your document for printing. You can therefore adjust the orientation of the page, the size of the margins, the format of the paper (color, size) or the addition of borders and ink pad on the sheet.
The References menu
If you wish to add footnotes, bibliographic citations or a lexicographic index to your document, you will have to go to the References menu. This also allows you to add tables of contents and tables of figures.
The Revision menu
The Revision menu gives you access to three main tools: the proofreader, the text translation tool and the functions allowing collaborative work.
Word's proofreader helps you avoid grammar and spelling mistakes in your text. Best of all, it lets you analyze your text and come up with suggestions for a turn of phrase. This tool will also warn you if it detects an incomprehensible expression and will give you an estimate of the time to read your text aloud.
The text translator allows you, as its name suggests, to transcribe your text into another language. The original language is automatically detected and Word will ask you in which language you want to translate your document. Once the translation is done, you can insert it into your source text.
The collaborative work functionalities mainly concern the addition of comments by the different users, the validation, the refusal and the follow-up of the modifications made by others or the comparison of the various versions of the same Word file.
The View menu
This last menu will allow you to modify the way in which Word displays your document on the screen (normal mode, reading mode, web page mode, etc.). It will also offer you tools for zooming, navigating between the different Word windows as well as the possibility of recording and viewing macros.
What are the new features of Microsoft Word?
The new features provided by the 2021 version of Word mainly concern the collaborative aspect, the insertion of three-dimensional (3D) objects in your documents and the various functions that will allow you to use the software more easily.
Collaborative work
Word 2021 now allows the use of the cloud to improve teamwork. When your team collaborates on the same Word document over the internet, comments and changes you make to the file are transmitted in real time to the other members of your team.
Microsoft has also taken advantage of this new version of Word to improve the performance of the tool in terms of loading time and access to various functions.
Insertion of 3D objects
The latest version of Microsoft Word now gives you access to a library of 3D symbols and images that take vector graphics into account.
Word 2021 is also equipped with a new ClipArt that allows you to insert 3D models that can be rotated 360 degrees. These features are available to the people you share your file with as long as they are using the latest version of the software.
Integrated translator and hands-free function
Still with the aim of improving the ease of use of Word, Microsoft has extended version 2021 with a translator capable of transcribing in more than 60 different languages. 11 of these languages allow access to speech recognition and the quality of the translation is worthy of specialized professional software.
In addition, the latest version of Word allows you to write by hand with a stylus when you are in touchscreen mode on a tablet.
The use of LaTex language for writing mathematical formulas is now possible in Word 2021.
How can I download Microsoft Word?
The Desktop version of Word 2021 is available for PC users with Windows 8.1 or 10. This version is included in the Microsoft Office suite. Those on Mac will also be able to benefit from the software provided that their OS is up to date.
For mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets, Word is available in the Office Mobile suite. Microsoft Word mobile app for Android can be downloaded from the Play Store and requires Android 6.0 minimum configuration. Word for iOS is available in the App Store and requires iOS 13.0 or later to function properly.
Word is available as an online service from Microsoft 365. The tool is therefore accessible from any device regardless of the OS you are using. You just have to launch your internet browser to take advantage of the software's features.
What are the free alternatives to Microsoft Word?
There are few alternatives to Word. However, we can cite the LibreOffice suite which is completely free and is based on the principle of open source. LibreOffice's word processor is called Writer and offers the same basic functionality as Word. Writer is available for Linux, Windows and macOS for the desktop version and it is also available as a mobile version for Android and iOS.
Another free alternative to Word is integrated into the Chinese-origin WPS Office suite. This suite takes its name from the 3 softwares that compose it, in particular a text editor or Writer, a Presentation software and a spreadsheet or Spreadsheet. WPS Office is available free for personal use on PCs running Windows, macOs, and Linux. A free but restricted mobile application is also available for devices running Android or iOS.
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