How Difficult is it to Learn Microsoft Word?

Are you curious about learning Microsoft Word but worried it might be too hard? Of course, the difficulty that comes with learning a new skill is somewhat subjective. The challenges of learning Microsoft Word depend on whether you possess basic computer skills and if your schedule is open enough to dedicate time to learning. Knowing other Microsoft Office programs can also give you some familiarity with Microsoft Word, even if you’ve never used it before. 

No matter your current schedule or comfort level with Microsoft Word, plenty of tools are available to help make learning more straightforward than you might think.

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. 

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Microsoft Word?

Microsoft Word is a robust software with many features. While the basics of Microsoft Word are easy to learn, advanced features will likely elude most self-learners. Without instruction, some people never realize all the powerful tools Microsoft Word has available. The best way to learn all that Microsoft Word offers is to attend a professional class, so you learn all the time-saving advanced features. If you prefer to learn on your own, you can search online for expert Microsoft Word tips or “things about Microsoft Word you didn’t know.”

Some students are new to word processing programs and may be overwhelmed when faced with Microsoft Word’s features. If this is the case for you, you can attend a beginner’s Microsoft Word course that will guide you through the basic tools. Another option is to find beginner’s online tutorials. Take each feature of Word one at a time and learn at a pace you are comfortable with. Once you feel like you’ve mastered one tool, only then move on to the next. 

How Does Learning Microsoft Word Compare to Other Applications?

Google Docs is Word’s primary competitor. Google Docs is web-based, so there’s no installation required, and it’s even easier for teams to collaborate. Its autosave feature also ensures documents are never lost (Microsoft Word has this feature, but it has to be manually activated). You can access files anywhere from any device so long as you have an internet connection. Converting Google Docs documents to web pages is easier than with Microsoft Word. Google Docs is also completely free compared to Microsoft Word’s $80 price tag.

However, Google Docs doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of Microsoft Word. While virtually any document can be created in Microsoft Word, including visual effects and animations, Google Docs is suited to more simple designs. Some users also find Microsoft Word more intuitive to work with than Google Docs, and Google Drive has storage limits. While Google Docs is perfectly serviceable to the average individual’s needs, professionals who wish to make complex documents or work offline would be better serviced by Microsoft Word. 

Apple Pages is Microsoft Word’s main competitor if you own a Mac. The biggest advantage of Apple Pages is that it comes free with Mac computers. Some users find its interface more intuitive than Microsoft Word and enjoy its autosave feature. Apple Pages also has more options than Word when it comes to manipulating images within documents.

Like Google Docs, Apple Pages can handle the average individual’s word processing and document creation needs. However, Microsoft Word’s advantage over all its competitors remains its powerful features. Apple Pages can be difficult to share documents in a team setting where not everyone may be using a Mac computer, and teams may experience conversion errors between document files. However, some professionals who prefer to use more visual elements in their documents prefer working with Apple Pages.

In conclusion, Microsoft Word is the more powerful document creator, Google Docs is ideal for team sharing and availability, and Apple Pages may be the better choice for Mac users who do not work within teams or across different operating systems. 

Microsoft Word’s Help Feature

If you’re struggling with Microsoft Word, the program has a built-in help feature to assist you. In addition to an index and contents list, you can ask Microsoft Word a question such as “How do I…?” and the program will provide you with a list of topics related to your question. Microsoft Word also has a “Tell me what you want to do” window where you can type the task you are trying to achieve, such as “format a letter” or “apply a template.” Like the question window, this tool generates a list of topics to review. 

Microsoft Word’s built-in assistance should provide you with all you need to work your way through the program. If you’re looking for more tutorials, the Microsoft website also features guides on Microsoft Word. 

Why Is Microsoft Word Worth Learning?

If you’re struggling to learn Microsoft Word, there are many reasons to stick with it. Microsoft Word is commonly used by communications professionals, such as Office Assistants, Writers, and Lawyers. It’s also used across industries in any position requiring communication, from office clerks to CEOs. Microsoft Word is a required proficiency for hundreds of thousands of job positions. If you’re looking to boost your resume, Microsoft Word is a must-have skill to know.

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.