Microsoft Office Starter · free course

Free course · Lesson 1 of 5

Introduction to Microsoft Word

In this lesson you will

  • Create, edit and save a Word document
  • Use basic editing shortcuts

Microsoft Word is the world's most widely used word processor — used for letters, reports, CVs, meeting minutes, and official documents across NGOs, government offices, and businesses in South Sudan. Before formatting anything, get comfortable with the basics: creating, saving, and organizing your files so you never lose work.

  • Ribbon & Tabs: The toolbar at the top (Home, Insert, Layout, References) groups related tools together. The Home tab has everything you need for basic formatting.
  • Save vs Save As: Use Ctrl+S often to save your progress. Use Save As to create a new copy with a different name or location — useful before making big changes.
  • File formats: Save working documents as .docx. Export a final version as PDF (File → Export) so it cannot be accidentally edited and opens the same on any device.
  • AutoRecover: Word automatically saves a backup copy every few minutes — helpful if your computer loses power unexpectedly, which is common with unreliable electricity.

Practical Skill: Create a new document, type a simple one-page notice (e.g. a community meeting announcement), save it as Meeting_Notice_2026.docx, then export a second copy as PDF. Practice reopening both files to confirm they saved correctly.

TemplateFile Naming & Save Checklist
Worksheet
=== SAFE FILE-SAVING CHECKLIST === [ ] Save your file within the first 2 minutes of starting work[ ] Use Ctrl+S every 5-10 minutes while working[ ] Use a clear file name: Topic_Date.docx      Good:  Community_Meeting_Notice_2026-03-10.docx      Bad:   Document1.docx[ ] Keep a backup copy on a USB drive or cloud storage      (OneDrive, Google Drive) in case your computer is lost,      stolen, or damaged[ ] Before printing or sending, export a PDF copy:      File -> Export -> Create PDF/XPS Document[ ] Check the PDF opens correctly on a phone before sending      it over WhatsApp or email === KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS WORTH MEMORIZING ===  Ctrl + S   Save  Ctrl + Z   Undo  Ctrl + C / Ctrl + V   Copy / Paste  Ctrl + B / Ctrl + I / Ctrl + U   Bold / Italic / Underline  Ctrl + P   Print

Practice exercise

Type a short notice for a community meeting, correct it with shortcuts and save it with a clear file name.

Key takeaways

  • Select and replace text instead of retyping it
  • Save early and often
  • Clear file names make documents easy to find
In the full program Module 2: Creating Documents in Word See how this topic is taught in depth, with practical activities and an assessment.

Free self-study lesson — no certificate. For the full instructor-led program, see registration options.