The default tab setting for Microsoft Word is .5 inches. If you press the Tab key, the cursor will move 1/2 inch across the page and an arrow will appear on the screen. The arrow is a nonprinting character, so when you print your document the arrow will not print.

Select the appropriate sections of the document, click the tab alignment button on the horizontal ruler until the type of tab you want appears. Then click the place in the ruler where you want to set the tab stop. To remove a tab stop, drag the tab marker off the ruler straight down into your document.

• Left tab- Left edge of text lines up with the tab stop.
• Right tab - Right edge of text line up with the tab stop.
• Center tab - Text is centered at the tab stop.
• Decimal tab - Decimal point lines up with the tab stop. Good for use with columns with numbers.

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Setting Tabs at the Tabs Dialog Box

You can also set tabs at the Tabs Dialog Box. To display the Tabs dialog box:

• Click Format on the Menu toolbar.
• Select Tabs to open the Tabs Dialog Box.

• To clear all tabs, click the Clear All button.
• To clear an individual tab, specify the tab position, and then click the Clear button.
• To change the type of tab, click the desired tab in the Alignment section.
• The Tab stop position option at the Tabs dialog box is used to identify the specific measurement where the tab is to be set. To set a tab, click the desired tab alignment, click in the Tab stop position text box, and then key the desired measurement.

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Decrease and Increase Paragraph Indentation

• To decrease the indent to the previous tab stop, place your cursor anywhere in the paragraph, and click on the decrease indent on the formatting toolbar.
• To increase the indent to the next tab stop, place your cursor anywhere in the paragraph, and click on the increase indent on the formatting toolbar.

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Bullets and Numbering

In Microsoft Word, you can easily create bulleted or numbered lists of items. Several bulleting and numbering styles are available.

• Type the following as shown:
  • Dogs
  • Cats
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bears
• Highlight the words you just typed.
• Click on Format.
• Highlight Bullets and Numbering.
• Press Enter.
• Click on the Numbered tab, if it is not in the front.
• Several styles are available to you. Click on the style you want to use.
• Click on OK. Your list should now be numbered.
• Try out a few more to see the different options you have available.

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Remove Numbering

• Highlight the list again.
• Click on Format.
• Highlight Bullets and Numbering.
• Press Enter.
• Click on None.
• Click on OK.

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Numbering using the Icon

• Highlight the list you typed.
• Click on the Numbering icon on the Formatting toolbar.
• Your list should now be numbered.

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Remove Numbering Using the Icon

• Highlight the list again.
• Click again on the Numbering icon .

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Bulleting

• Highlight the list you typed.
• Click on Format.
• Highlight Bullets and Numbering.
• Press Enter.
• Click on the Bulleted tab, if it is not in the front.
• Several styles are available to you. Click on the style you want to use.
• Click on OK. Your list should now be bulleted.

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Remove Bulleting

• Highlight the list again.
• Click on Format.
• Highlight Bullets and Numbering.
• Press Enter.
• Click on None.
• Click on OK.

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Bulleting Using the Icon

• Highlight the list you typed.
• Click on the Bullets icon on the Formatting toolbar.
• Your list should now be bulleted.

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Remove Bulleting Using the Icon

• Highlight the list again.
• Click on the Bullets icon again.

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Inserting Special Symbols in a Document

Sometimes special symbols are needed that are not included on the keyboard. To insert a symbol, display the Symbol Dialog Box:

• Click Insert on the Menu toolbar.
• Select Symbol from the drop-down list.
• At the Symbol Dialog box with the Symbols tab selected, double-click the desired symbol.
• Click Close to close the Symbols Dialog box.