Step-by-step lessons · October 2026
Word Step by Step
From first document to mail merge
Clear, numbered steps for every main feature of Word, from typing your first page to styles, tables, a table of contents, Track Changes, mail merge and fillable forms. Every lesson ends with a practice task.
See the lessons ↓Lessons
15 lessons in 4 parts · 198 numbered steps
Highlights
Styles, Track Changes and Mail merge, the three skills that save the most time
Version
Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows; 2019, 2021 and 2024 are very similar
Part 1
Foundations
Getting Started with Word
Find your way around the Word window, start a document from blank or a template, and save it safely in the right format.
12 steps → 02 · 30 min · Worked exampleSelecting, Moving and Replacing Text
Select text quickly, move and copy it, paste without messy formatting, and use Find and Replace to change many words at once.
13 steps → 03 · 25 minFormatting Characters
Change fonts, sizes, colours and effects, copy a look with Format Painter, and clear formatting that has gone wrong.
11 steps → 04 · 35 minParagraphs, Spacing, Tabs and Lists
Align and space paragraphs properly, set indents and tab stops, and build bulleted, numbered and multilevel lists.
16 steps → 05 · 25 minSpelling, Grammar and Language Tools
Check spelling and grammar with Editor, find better words, count words, and use Dictate, Read Aloud and Translate.
11 steps →Part 2
Layout & design
Styles, Themes and Style Sets
Format with styles instead of by hand, change a style once to update the whole document, and restyle everything with themes.
12 steps → 07 · 30 min · Worked examplePage Setup, Breaks and Sections
Set margins, orientation, paper size and columns, and use page and section breaks to mix layouts in one document.
10 steps → 08 · 30 minHeaders, Footers and Page Design
Add a logo and title to every page, number pages correctly, and use cover pages, watermarks and page borders.
14 steps → 09 · 35 min · Worked exampleCreating and Formatting Tables
Insert tables, add and remove rows and columns, merge cells, style the table, sort it and do simple totals.
15 steps → 10 · 35 min · Worked examplePictures, Shapes, SmartArt and Charts
Insert and edit pictures, control text wrapping, draw shapes and text boxes, and add SmartArt, charts, links and symbols.
16 steps →Part 3
Long documents & teamwork
Contents, Captions, Footnotes and Indexes
Let Word build the table of contents, number figures and tables, add cross-references, footnotes, citations and an index.
14 steps → 12 · 35 min · Worked exampleComments, Track Changes and Sharing
Work with colleagues using comments and Track Changes, compare two versions, co-author in real time and protect a document.
14 steps →Part 4
Automate & finish
Mail Merge: Letters, Emails and Labels
Combine one Word document with an Excel list to create personalised letters, emails, labels and envelopes in seconds.
12 steps → 14 · 40 min · Worked exampleTemplates, Quick Parts, Fields and Forms
Save reusable layouts as templates, store text blocks as Quick Parts, use fields that update themselves, and build fillable forms.
15 steps → 15 · 35 min · Worked exampleMacros, Copilot, Printing and Final Checks
Record a macro for repeated tasks, use Copilot well, check a document before sending, and print or export it as a PDF.
13 steps →Quick finder
Where is that button?
| # | Lesson | Where to find it | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Getting Started with Word | File tab (Backstage view), the ribbon and the Search box | 25 min |
| 02 | Selecting, Moving and Replacing Text | Home › Clipboard and Editing groups | 30 min |
| 03 | Formatting Characters | Home › Font group and the mini toolbar | 25 min |
| 04 | Paragraphs, Spacing, Tabs and Lists | Home › Paragraph group, Layout › Paragraph, and the ruler | 35 min |
| 05 | Spelling, Grammar and Language Tools | Home › Editor, Home › Dictate and the Review tab | 25 min |
| 06 | Styles, Themes and Style Sets | Home › Styles group and the Design tab | 35 min |
| 07 | Page Setup, Breaks and Sections | Layout tab › Page Setup group | 30 min |
| 08 | Headers, Footers and Page Design | Insert › Header & Footer group, and the Design tab | 30 min |
| 09 | Creating and Formatting Tables | Insert › Table, then the Table Design and Layout tabs | 35 min |
| 10 | Pictures, Shapes, SmartArt and Charts | Insert tab, then Picture Format and Shape Format | 35 min |
| 11 | Contents, Captions, Footnotes and Indexes | References tab and the Navigation pane | 40 min |
| 12 | Comments, Track Changes and Sharing | Review tab and the Share button | 35 min |
| 13 | Mail Merge: Letters, Emails and Labels | Mailings tab | 40 min |
| 14 | Templates, Quick Parts, Fields and Forms | File › Save As, Insert › Quick Parts and the Developer tab | 40 min |
| 15 | Macros, Copilot, Printing and Final Checks | View › Macros, Home › Copilot, File › Info, File › Print and File › Export | 35 min |