Setting Margins

Most instructors require that research papers use standard margins. These standards are usually one inch left and right margins and one- inch top and bottom margins. These margins are the defaults in Microsoft Word. However, you might occasionally need to alter the margins in a document.

To set margins in Word:

• Choose File on the Menu Toolbar.
• Select Page Setup from the drop-down list.
• Select the margin you wish to change by highlighting the number in the text box.
• After entering all of your margins (in inches), click OK.

Back to top

Adding Borders to Paragraphs of Text

Use the same sample paragraph for this exercise. Create a border around this paragraph by completing the following steps:

• Copy the paragraph in an open document.
• Select the sample paragraph by holding down the left mouse button while dragging to select all of it.
• Position the mouse pointer on the border button on the formatting toolbar and wait for the screen tip to display. Make sure the Screen tip displays an Outside Border and then click the button. (If this is not the name for the button, click the down-pointing triangle at the right side of the button and then click the Outside Border option [first option in the top row]).

Back to top

Remove a Border From a Paragraph

• Select the paragraph(s) with the border you want to remove
• Click the arrow next to the BORDER button. A pull-down listing appears. From the pull-down listing, click the NO BORDER button.

Back to top

Add a Customized Border

• Select the sample paragraph by holding down the left mouse button while dragging to select all of it.
• Click Format on the Menu Toolbar.
• Select Borders and Shading to open the Borders and Shading dialog box.
• At the Borders and Shading dialog box with the Borders tab selected, click the shadow button.
• Click the down-pointing triangle at the right side of the Width text box and then click the pt size line of your choosing.
• Click the down-pointing triangle at the right side of the Color text box, and then click on a color of your choosing.
• Click OK or press Enter.

Back to top

Applying Shading to Your Paragraph

• Select the paragraph(s) that you want to add shading to.
• From the Format menu, select Borders and Shading.
• Select the Shading tab From the Fill and Patterns areas, select the desired options.
• The Preview section will adjust based on your selections.
• Click OK

Back to top

Modifying Shading

• Select the paragraph(s) with the shading you want to change.
• From the Format menu, select Borders and Shading.
• Select the Shading tab.
• In the Fill and Patterns areas, make your changes.
• The Preview section will adjust based on your selections.
• Click OK

Back to top

Removing Shading

• Select the paragraph with the shading you want to remove.
• From the Format menu, select Borders and Shading.
• Select the Shading tab.
• In the Fill section, select None.
• In the Patterns section, from the Style pull-down listing, select Clear.
• Click OK

Back to top

Adding a Footer and Border Line to a Document

Create a footer that prints on every page of the document and contains a borderline by completing the following steps:

• Click View on the Menu Toolbar.
• Click Header and Footer.
• At the header pain, click the Switch Between Header and Footer button on the Header and Footer toolbar.
• At the footer pane, turn on bold, and then key Pahokee Middle Senior High at the left margin.
• Press the Tab key twice.
• Key Page and then press the spacebar.
• Click the Insert Page Number button on the Header and Footer toolbar.
• Select the Number 1, turn on bold, the then deselect the text.
• Click the Format and then Borders and Shading.
• At the Borders and Shading dialog box with the Borders tab selected, click the down-pointing triangle at the right side of the Style list box until the first thick/thin line displays and then click the thick/thin double line.
• Check the diagram in the Preview section of the dialog box. Click each side to remove the boarder line except the top border.

• Click OK to close the dialog box.
• Click the Close button to close the Header and Fooer toolbar.

Back to top

Inserting Horizontal Lines

• At an open document, place your cursor where you want to place your horizontal rule.
• Click Format on the Menu Toolbar.
• Select Borders and Shading to open the borders and Shading dialog box.
• At the Borders and Shading dialog box, click the Horizontal Line button located at the bottom of the dialog box.
• At the Horizontal Line dialog box, select a horizontal rule of your liking.
• Click the Insert clip button at the callout side menu.

Back to top

Adding Page Borders

• With the insertion point positioned at the beginning of the page in the document you wish to apply a border, click Format on the Menu Toolbar.
• Select Borders and Shading to open the Borders and Shading dialog box.
• At the Border and Shading dialog box, click the Page Borders tab.
• Click the Box button in the Setting sections.
• Scroll down the list of line styles in the Style list box until the end of the list displays and then click a line style of your choosing.
• Click the down-pointing triangle at the right side of the Apply to option and then click This Section - Fist page only at the drop down list.
• Click OK to close the dialog box.

Back to top

Inserting a Decorative Graphic Page Border

• Display the Borders and Shading dialog box.
• At the Borders and Shading dialog box, click the Page Border tab.
• Click the Box button in the Setting section.
• Click the down-pointing triangle at the right side of the Art text box.
• At the drop-down list that displays, scroll down the list until you find a decorative art border of your liking.
• Click OK to close the dialog box.