Microsoft Word is a key topic in the Computer Awareness section of NIMCET, where questions can test your understanding of basic concepts, file extensions, interface components and keyboard shortcuts. Remembering these details can be challenging because Word includes several tools, commands and shortcut combinations that perform different functions. A clear understanding of these fundamentals is therefore important while revising the topic and preparing for questions related to Microsoft Word.
These NIMCET Microsoft Word notes cover the important concepts required for Computer Awareness preparation. The notes include the Microsoft Word timeline, file extensions, major components and their functions, commonly used keyboard shortcuts, and practice questions for revision.
Microsoft Word is a word-processing software developed by Microsoft. It was first released in 1983 under the name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. It allows users to create, edit, format and revise documents. Word also provides various formatting and presentation options that help in creating well-formatted documents.
Microsoft Word documents commonly use the .doc and .docx file extensions.
.doc: Used by older versions of Microsoft Word.
.docx: Introduced with newer versions of Word and based on the Office Open XML standard.
The distinction between .doc and .docx is an important basic concept for NIMCET Word notes under Computer Awareness.
The development of Microsoft Word includes several versions released over the years.
|
Year |
Name |
Version |
|
1989 |
Word for Windows 1.0 |
1 |
|
1990 |
Word for Windows 1.1 |
1.1 |
|
1990 |
Word for Windows 1.1a |
1.1a |
|
1991 |
Word for Windows 2.0 |
2.0 |
|
1993 |
Word for Windows 6.0 |
6.0 |
|
1995 |
Word 95 |
7.0 |
|
1997 |
Word 97 |
8.0 |
|
1998 |
Word 98 |
8.5 |
|
1999 |
Word 2000 |
9.0 |
|
2001 |
Word 2002 |
10.0 |
|
2003 |
Office Word 2003 |
11.0 |
|
2006 |
Office Word 2007 |
12.0 |
|
2010 |
Word 2010 |
14.0 |
|
2013 |
Word 2013 |
15.0 |
The Microsoft Office blog announced in January 2015 that Office 2016 for Windows desktop was in development.
Microsoft Word has several interface components that help users create, edit, format and manage documents. Knowing the purpose of these components is useful for NIMCET Computer Awareness preparation, particularly for questions based on their functions.
|
Component |
Function |
|
Microsoft Office Button |
Provides options such as New, Open, Save, Save As, Print, Prepare, Send, Publish, Close, Word Options and Exit Word. It also displays recently opened documents. |
|
Quick Access Toolbar |
Provides quick access to frequently used commands and can be customised according to the user's requirements. |
|
Ribbon |
Contains commands organised into Tabs, Groups and Commands. Examples of tabs include Home, Insert and Page Layout. |
|
Title Bar |
Appears at the top of the Word window and displays the programme and document titles. |
|
Rulers |
Word has horizontal and vertical rulers. The horizontal ruler helps set margins and tab stops, while the vertical ruler indicates the vertical position of elements on the page. |
|
Help |
Provides access to information and tutorials related to Microsoft Word. |
|
Zoom Control |
Allows users to zoom in or out of the document using a slider and plus or minus controls. |
|
View Buttons |
Allow users to switch between document views such as Print Layout, Full Screen Reading, Web Layout, Outline and Draft. |
|
Document Area |
The main area where users type and edit text. The flashing vertical line indicating where text will appear is called the insertion point. |
|
Status Bar |
Displays document information such as page number, word count, language and the position of the insertion point. |
|
Dialog Box Launcher |
A small arrow at the lower-right corner of certain Ribbon groups that opens a related dialogue box or task pane with additional options. |
|
Scroll Bar |
Helps move through different parts of the document. |
|
Cursor |
Indicates the current position or location where an action can be performed in the document. |
|
Word Count |
Displays the number of words contained in the document. |
|
Page Number |
Indicates the current page and document page information. |
|
Home Tab |
Contains commonly used commands for editing and formatting text. |
Keyboard shortcuts are an important part of NIMCET MS Word preparation. Learning commonly used combinations can make it easier to identify shortcut-based questions in the exam.
|
Task |
Shortcut |
|
Create a new document |
Ctrl + N |
|
Open a document |
Ctrl + O |
|
Save a document |
Ctrl + S |
|
Close a document |
Ctrl + W |
|
Copy selected text or object |
Ctrl + C |
|
Cut selected text or object |
Ctrl + X |
|
Paste text or object |
Ctrl + V |
|
Paste Special |
Ctrl + Alt + V |
|
Undo an action |
Ctrl + Z |
|
Redo or repeat an action |
Ctrl + Y |
|
Find text |
Ctrl + F |
|
Replace text |
Ctrl + H |
|
Go to a page or other location |
Ctrl + G |
|
Make text bold |
Ctrl + B |
|
Make text italic |
Ctrl + I |
|
Underline text |
Ctrl + U |
|
Centre-align a paragraph |
Ctrl + E |
|
Justify a paragraph |
Ctrl + J |
|
Right-align a paragraph |
Ctrl + R |
|
Left-align a paragraph |
Ctrl + L |
|
Increase font size by one point |
Ctrl + ] |
|
Decrease font size by one point |
Ctrl + [ |
|
Open Word Count |
Ctrl + Shift + G |
For broader NIMCET preparation, these NIMCET Computer Awareness Notes can be studied alongside other Computer Awareness topics covered in the exam preparation material.
|
Task |
Shortcut |
|
Switch to the next window |
Alt + Tab |
|
Switch to the previous window |
Alt + Shift + Tab |
|
Close the active window |
Ctrl + W / Ctrl + F4 |
|
Restore the active window after maximising |
Alt + F5 |
|
Move to the next task pane |
F6 |
|
Move to the previous task pane |
Shift + F6 |
|
Switch to the next window |
Ctrl + F6 |
|
Switch to the previous window |
Ctrl + Shift + F6 |
|
Maximise or restore a selected window |
Ctrl + F10 |
|
Copy a picture of the screen |
Print Screen |
|
Copy a picture of the selected window |
Alt + Print Screen |
Microsoft Word also provides keyboard shortcuts for navigating and operating dialogue boxes.
|
Task |
Shortcut |
|
Move back to the document from a supported dialogue box |
Alt + F6 |
|
Move to the next option or group |
Tab |
|
Move to the previous option or group |
Shift + Tab |
|
Move to the next tab |
Ctrl + Tab |
|
Move to the previous tab |
Ctrl + Shift + Tab |
|
Move between options |
Arrow Keys |
|
Select or clear a checkbox |
Spacebar |
|
Open a selected drop-down list |
Alt + Down Arrow |
|
Close a drop-down list or cancel a command |
Esc |
|
Run the selected command |
Enter |
These Microsoft Word shortcuts help you quickly find, replace, and move between specific text or editing locations within a document.
|
Task |
Shortcut |
|
Find text, formatting or special items |
Ctrl + F |
|
Replace text or formatting |
Ctrl + H |
|
Go to a page, bookmark or other location |
Ctrl + G |
|
Move to the previous edit location |
Ctrl + Page Up |
|
Move to the next edit location |
Ctrl + Page Down |
|
Repeat Find |
Alt + Ctrl + Y |
|
Switch between recent editing locations |
Alt + Ctrl + Z |
These shortcuts help you quickly change paragraph alignment, indentation and formatting while working in a Microsoft Word document.
|
Task |
Shortcut |
|
Centre-align a paragraph |
Ctrl + E |
|
Justify a paragraph |
Ctrl + J |
|
Right-align a paragraph |
Ctrl + R |
|
Left-align a paragraph |
Ctrl + L |
|
Indent a paragraph from the left |
Ctrl + M |
|
Remove a left paragraph indent |
Ctrl + Shift + M |
|
Create a hanging indent |
Ctrl + T |
|
Reduce a hanging indent |
Ctrl + Shift + T |
|
Remove paragraph formatting |
Ctrl + Q |
These Microsoft Word shortcuts cover common tasks such as creating, saving, editing, formatting and managing documents more efficiently.
|
Task |
Shortcut |
|
Create a nonbreaking space |
Ctrl + Shift + Spacebar |
|
Create a nonbreaking hyphen |
Ctrl + Hyphen |
|
Remove character or paragraph formatting |
Ctrl + Spacebar |
|
Split the document window |
Alt + Ctrl + S |
|
Remove the document window split |
Alt + Shift + C |
|
Cancel an action |
Esc |
|
Undo an action |
Ctrl + Z |
|
Redo or repeat an action |
Ctrl + Y |
If you are preparing for NIMCET 2027, the NIMCET batches include preparation resources covering the exam syllabus and different sections.
For quick revision before the exam, having the important Microsoft Word concepts in a single PDF can make it easier to revisit definitions, components, file extensions and keyboard shortcuts.
For upcoming exam preparation, NIMCET 2027 includes the latest exam-related information and preparation resources for the 2027 examination.
Microsoft Word preparation becomes easier when you divide the topic into basic concepts, important components and keyboard shortcuts. Focus on the following areas:
Learn the basics: Understand what Microsoft Word is, its file extensions and key features.
Know the components: Revise the functions of the Ribbon, Status Bar, Rulers, Quick Access Toolbar and other Word components.
Memorise shortcuts: Focus on shortcuts for creating, saving, editing, finding, replacing and formatting text.
Practise questions: Solve topic-based NIMCET Word Questions after revising the concepts to check your understanding and recall.
Continue overall preparation: The NIMCET exam resources cover information and study material for the wider entrance exam preparation.
Microsoft Word preparation for NIMCET should cover its basic concepts, file extensions, interface components and important keyboard shortcuts. The Ribbon, Status Bar, Rulers, document views and frequently used shortcut keys are key areas to revise. Practising questions after covering these concepts can help reinforce the topic for Computer Awareness preparation.
