Best Free Microsoft Word Resources & Tutorials

Many professionals are eager to learn Microsoft Word but hesitate because of the perceived up-front costs. Professional Microsoft Word courses are usually short, lasting only a day or two, and cost around a few hundred dollars. For those wishing to become certified in Microsoft Word, certification exams cost $100 per exam per Microsoft program. However, a surprising amount of free resources are available to help beginners get the hang of this exciting program. 

Read on to learn more about the different types of free resources and tutorials available to help you learn Microsoft Word. 

What is Microsoft Word?

Microsoft Word is a powerful word-processing software that offers tons of flexibility when it comes to creating professional reports, letters, contracts, and other documents. Its features are more robust than other word processors, allowing it to become an industry standard used by companies and entrepreneurs worldwide. These advanced features include mail marges, spellchecker, text formatting, tables, and page layout, among many others. Microsoft Word can also produce documents in various file types, making it compatible with many other programs. Its popularity means it’s also compatible with nearly any computer. 

Since its release in 1983, Microsoft Word has continued to evolve to the needs of its users. Modern integrations have allowed the use of Microsoft Word over mobile, the web, and the Cloud for collaborative document creation. Cloud-based sharing and permissions make it easy for colleagues to collaborate and maintain security. Though Microsoft Word has faced many competitors over the decades, it continues to stand the test of time. 

Read more about what Microsoft Word is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Microsoft Word?

Microsoft Word is primarily used as a word-processing program for creating professional-looking documents and reports. Authors use it to write novels, job seekers create resumes, and students write essays. In the workplace, Microsoft Word is used to create a host of documents, including letterheads, reports, templates, training manuals, calendars, invoices, and promotional materials, among others. Businesses also use the mail merge feature that outputs created documents to a mailing list or newsletter.

But Microsoft Word is more than a typing software. The program includes interactive elements such as fillable forms, checkboxes, and dropdown menus. It can easily convert documents into fillable PDFs or vice versa. Plain text documents are made more visually appealing with images, animations, or WordArt. Tables are also easily converted into visual graphs and charts. Microsoft Word can even transcribe audio files, transcribe live speech into text, and translate documents.

A particularly valuable feature of Microsoft Word is its collaboration tools for group projects. Professionals can easily share documents with others to work on. Changes such as comments and edits are tracked so the original owner of the document can decide what suggestions to make official. A history of changes to a document is also saved and can be reverted to at any time. Microsoft Word is a powerful tool for any business’ communications needs, whether internally or with customers or clients. 

Microsoft Word Free Trial

If you’re eager to learn Microsoft Word, one of the best resources is the Microsoft website, where you can download a free month-long trial. Microsoft Word has been around for decades, and there’s no better way to learn than to get your hands on the latest version so you can access the full suite of features.

Microsoft Word also has built-in help features. In addition to an index and a contents list you may be used to in other programs, Microsoft Word has a “Tell me what you want to do” window. Here, you can type the task you are attempting, such as “write a resume” or “create a newsletter.” You will then be given a list of topics and helpful articles related to your task.

Free Tutorials & Other Resources

Microsoft offers free online tutorials on Microsoft Word. These include how to format text, layout pages, enable coauthoring, and insert tables and pictures. These tutorials are usually task-oriented and may not be ideal for students looking for more of a comprehensive overview of Word. However, Microsoft does feature a quick start tutorial that serves as a compressed overview.

Should the official Microsoft website not have the resources you need, a number of websites, from Coursera and Udemy and beyond, offer free guidance. Courses on these sites tend to be under two hours and feature comprehensive Word overviews for beginner learners and task-specific guides. They also have courses featuring tips and tips for increasing productivity.

Noble Desktop Resources

Noble Desktop does not currently offer free Microsoft Word tutorials. However, they have several blog articles on Microsoft Word and Microsoft Word learning hubs. The learning hubs are designed to guide students interested in learning Microsoft Word on how and where to find the best training materials for their needs, including paid, free, or other resources.

Learn Microsoft Word with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

In today’s busy world, live online learning can be a fast, engaging, and comprehensive alternative to in-person classes. Noble Desktop offers live online classes in Microsoft Word that are hands-on and open to beginners. Classes are small, taught by expert instructors, and include free retake options.

Microsoft Word Level I is a one-day course that teaches all the Microsoft Word essentials. You’ll learn how to avoid common page formatting errors and prepare and send mass emails, letters, and labels with one click. You’ll also learn all the necessary shortcuts to shave hours off your time. Students who want to increase their Microsoft Word skills can attend the Microsoft Word Level II course.

Microsoft Word Level II is an advanced class that teaches next-level Microsoft Word skills. You’ll learn how to use automation to speed up your workflow, create custom document templates, use advanced formatting techniques, and build long documents. This is the ideal course for individuals wanting to become Microsoft Word experts. 

Noble Desktop also provides additional Microsoft Office classes, including Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook. 

Key Insights

• Learning Microsoft Word does not have to be expensive.
• The official Microsoft Word website offers free trials and resources
• The Microsoft Word program includes built-in help features
• Free online tutorials can be found through Coursera and Udemy
• Noble Desktop offers free Microsoft Word learning hubs