Let’s face it: Microsoft Word kind of sucks.

It’s unwieldy, complicated, and occasionally decides to reformat your entire document, delete several paragraphs, hack into your bank accounts, destroy your career, and generally leave you shrieking with rage. Word is EVIL.

But then, most of you are pretty much stuck with it. So you might as well learn how to use it.

Fonts and Formatting

Press Control + D. This will open Word’s “Fonts” settings. Then… experiment.

Find out what happens if you put your text into small caps, superscript, or strikethrough. Find out how many different underlines you can use. Have fun with it!

Knowing what you can change, and how to change it quickly and simply, will help you a lot in the long run.

Symbols and Equations

The symbols on your keyboard are not the only ones available.

You don’t need to painstakingly mash commas, slashes, and dashes to fake a square root symbol, there’s a real one hiding nearby.

Go to Insert > Symbol, and you’ll find multiplication signs, Greek letters, and square roots galore.

For more complicated maths equations, go to Insert > Object, and choose Microsoft Equation. You can create gloriously complex equations that would make your old physics teacher proud.

Removing Weird Formatting

If your document has turned into a visual circus – italics here, bold there, underlines everywhere – it might be easier to strip it all out and start fresh.

Highlight the text and press Control + Spacebar. Poof! All formatting gone. Back to good old plain text.

And Finally…

There are, of course, a thousand other things Word can do, most of them hidden behind buttons you’ve never dared to click. But for now, let’s leave it there. Go forth, brave Word-warrior. You’ve got this.

Bonus Tips from a Professional Editor

If you’re writing reports, lesson plans, or technical documents, remember that Microsoft Word is the editor’s best frenemy. Whether you’re preparing scientific materials or creating content for accessibility, a little knowledge can save you a lot of frustration.

As a professional editor in Melbourne, I’ve seen Word misbehave in every possible way. But with the right tools and settings, it can actually support your writing instead of sabotaging it.

Here’s what helps:

• Use Styles to make your headings consistent – it’s a small step that keeps your documents accessible.
• When editing for technical or educational publishing, turn on “Track Changes” to make collaboration smoother.
• If your writing will be shared online or in PDFs, run an accessibility check (File > Info > Check for Issues > Check Accessibility). It’s a quick win for readers using screen readers.

Professional Support for Your Writing

Whether you’re in Melbourne or anywhere else, I offer professional editing and writing services that make your documents clear, accessible, and technically accurate. From science and maths textbooks to digital content design, I help writers and publishers polish their work to a professional standard, with a little less Microsoft Word frustration along the way.

If you need expert help with your manuscript, report, or textbook, visit my Editing Services page to find out how I can support your next project.