Word Processing Applications
Word processing software allows you to create text-based documents, similar to how you would type a document on a typewriter. However, word processing software offers more powerful formatting and design tools, allowing you to create complex documents.
Here are some basic features of a word processing application:
- Font—also called the typeface, refers to a set of characters of a certain design. You can choose from several pre-installed fonts available.
- Word wrap—places text on the next line when the right edge of the page has been reached.
- Paragraph—groups of sentences separated by a hard return. A hard return refers to pressing the Enter key to create a new paragraph. You can assign a paragraph its own style to make it stand out from the rest of the document.
- Tables—used to organize data into columns and rows
- Charts—display data in a graphic format
- Graphics—Clip Art or line drawings can be added to documents
- Find and replace—searches for any word or phrase in the document. Also, allows all instances of a word to be replaced by another word.
- Spelling and grammar—checks for errors in spelling and grammar and offers solutions to the problems
Microsoft Word, and WordPerfect allow you to open or save to almost any type of word processing document. Some word processing applications allow you to open and save HTML files, which can be viewed in a Web browser.
There are many word processing applications on the market today, including Microsoft Word, Lotus' Word Pro, and Corel's WordPerfect. You may be most familiar with WordPad, a simple word processing application installed with the Windows operating system.
