Microsoft Word 365 for Beginners
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Microsoft Word 365 for Beginners
Included with
Recommended experience
Recommended experience
What you'll learn
Use advanced tools like Mail Merge, Track Changes, and document protection
Work with text, paragraphs, and pages to organize and refine your document
Create, format, and save documents using templates and OneDrive
Navigate the Word 365 interface and customize your workflow
Skills you'll gain
Details to know
February 2026
16 assignments
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
There are 16 modules in this course
This course features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course.
Master Microsoft Word 365 and learn how to create, edit, and format documents with ease. By the end, you’ll be proficient in navigating Word’s interface, working with text and paragraphs, applying styles and themes, managing pages, and collaborating in real time. You will also gain skills in advanced features like Mail Merge, Track Changes, and document protection, enabling you to create professional documents and collaborate effectively. The course starts with an overview of Word 365, comparing the Word Online and Desktop versions, and guiding you through the interface. You’ll cover document creation, formatting, and editing, with practical exercises to reinforce your skills. Perfect for beginners, this course requires no prior knowledge of Word and provides a strong foundation in using templates, tables, graphics, and team collaboration features. By the end, you’ll confidently navigate and use Word for various tasks.
In this module, we will introduce the course objectives and provide a comparison between Word Online and Word Desktop. You will also complete your first exercise to apply foundational Word 365 knowledge.
What's included
3 videos1 reading
3 videos•Total 9 minutes
- Course Introduction•3 minutes
- Word Online vs Word Desktop•4 minutes
- Exercise 01•1 minute
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
- Full Course Resources•10 minutes
In this module, we will guide you through the basic elements of Word 365, including the Start screen, the interface, and the Quick Access Toolbar. You'll also learn some essential keyboard shortcuts to increase your productivity and streamline document creation.
What's included
7 videos1 assignment
7 videos•Total 41 minutes
- Launch Word and Explore the Start Screen•6 minutes
- Get Familiar with the Word Interface•8 minutes
- Work with Ribbons, Tabs and Menus•7 minutes
- Customize the Quick Access Toolbar•7 minutes
- Useful Keyboard Shortcuts•7 minutes
- Check Spelling and Grammar as You Type•3 minutes
- Exercise 02•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Word 365 - The Basics - Assessment•15 minutes
This module will teach you the essentials of working with documents in Word 365. You’ll learn how to use templates, save documents to OneDrive, and recover documents that were not saved. Additionally, we will cover how to navigate and search within your documents.
What's included
7 videos1 assignment
7 videos•Total 30 minutes
- Word Templates•6 minutes
- Create and Save a Document•4 minutes
- Save Documents to OneDrive•2 minutes
- Recover Unsaved Documents•3 minutes
- Navigate Around a Document•6 minutes
- Find Tools in Word•4 minutes
- Exercise 03•5 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Get Started - Work with Documents - Assessment•15 minutes
In this section, we will cover how to view documents in different formats and use tools like the Immersive Reader to improve your reading experience. You'll also learn how to arrange documents and adjust zoom levels to suit your needs.
What's included
4 videos1 assignment
4 videos•Total 22 minutes
- Switch Document Views•8 minutes
- Use the Immersive Reader and Focus•5 minutes
- Arrange Documents and Zoom•7 minutes
- Exercise 04•2 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- View Documents - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will show you how to enter and format text, move text within your document using the clipboard, and utilize the Dictate and Transcribe tools to make document creation even faster and more efficient.
What's included
8 videos1 assignment
8 videos•Total 47 minutes
- Enter and Format Text•9 minutes
- Move Text with Cut, Copy and Paste•4 minutes
- Work with the Clipboard•5 minutes
- Copy Formatting: Format Painter•5 minutes
- Paste Options•5 minutes
- Find and Replace Tool•8 minutes
- Dictate and Transcribe•8 minutes
- Exercise 05•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Work with Text in Documents - Assessment•15 minutes
In this section, we will teach you how to work with paragraphs in Word 365. You will learn how to adjust alignment, spacing, and indentation, as well as how to use tabs and lists to improve the organization of your document.
What's included
7 videos1 assignment
7 videos•Total 47 minutes
- Format Paragraphs and Alignment•7 minutes
- Line and Paragraph Spacing Options•6 minutes
- Show/Hide Markers (Non-Printing Characters)•5 minutes
- Bullets and Numbered Lists•9 minutes
- Indent Paragraphs•6 minutes
- Align Text with Tabs•10 minutes
- Exercise 06•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Work with Paragraphs - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will introduce Word themes and show you how to create your own custom theme using branded colors. You will also apply your new theme in a hands-on exercise.
What's included
3 videos1 assignment
3 videos•Total 19 minutes
- Word Themes Explained•8 minutes
- Create a Custom Theme with Branded Colors•8 minutes
- Exercise 07•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Themes - Assessment•15 minutes
This section will cover how to use Word Styles to improve the consistency and efficiency of document formatting. You’ll learn to modify existing styles and create your own custom styles to match your needs.
What's included
5 videos1 assignment
5 videos•Total 28 minutes
- Word Styles Explained•7 minutes
- Modify Styles in the Styles Pane•7 minutes
- Reset to Default Styles•4 minutes
- Create a Custom Style•6 minutes
- Exercise 08•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Word Styles - Assessment•15 minutes
In this section, we will guide you through inserting and formatting various objects, from images and tables to charts and shapes. You will learn how to manage these elements efficiently and use advanced tools like the Background Remover.
What's included
14 videos1 assignment
14 videos•Total 98 minutes
- Resources: Free Images and Video•6 minutes
- Insert and Format Pictures•13 minutes
- Background Remover Tool•5 minutes
- Insert and Format Text Boxes•6 minutes
- Insert and Format Shapes•10 minutes
- Alignment Tools•5 minutes
- Use the Selection Pane•6 minutes
- Insert Other Graphics•8 minutes
- Insert SmartArt, Charts, and Screenshots•8 minutes
- Draw with Touch•5 minutes
- Organize Information in a Table•8 minutes
- Calculations in Word•6 minutes
- Add a Watermark and Page Color•4 minutes
- Exercise 09•8 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Insert Pictures, Tables, Shapes, and Other Objects - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will show you how to format your document’s pages, including setting margins and orientation. You’ll also learn how to add headers, footers, page numbers, and hyperlinks to enhance your document’s structure and usability.
What's included
9 videos1 assignment
9 videos•Total 52 minutes
- Set Margins, Orientation and Page Size•5 minutes
- Work with Page and Section Breaks•7 minutes
- Insert Additional Pages: Cover Page and Blanks•6 minutes
- Apply Column Layout (Newspaper Format)•6 minutes
- Add Headers, Footers and Page Numbers•7 minutes
- Insert Hyperlinks•7 minutes
- Insert Bookmarks•4 minutes
- Insert Reusable Content with Quick Parts•5 minutes
- Exercise 10•5 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Format Pages - Assessment•15 minutes
This section covers how to work with references in Word 365, from creating a table of contents and inserting footnotes to generating bibliographies and indexes. You will also learn how to use captions and tables of figures for academic and professional documents.
What's included
7 videos1 assignment
7 videos•Total 35 minutes
- Work with a Table of Contents•7 minutes
- Use Footnotes and Endnotes•5 minutes
- Build a Bibliography•5 minutes
- Insert Captions and a Table of Figures•4 minutes
- Create an Index•6 minutes
- Insert a Table of Authorities•4 minutes
- Exercise 11•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- References - Assessment•15 minutes
In this section, we will walk you through the Mail Merge process, showing you how to create customized letters, envelopes, and labels. You’ll use merge fields to insert personalized data into your documents and practice these techniques with a real-world exercise.
What's included
4 videos1 assignment
4 videos•Total 24 minutes
- Mail Merge Wizard: Create Letters•9 minutes
- Mail Merge Wizard: Create Envelopes•5 minutes
- Create Labels with Merge Fields•5 minutes
- Exercise 12•6 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Mail Merge - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will demonstrate how to use the Track Changes feature to mark up a document. You will also learn how to add comments for better collaboration and review, with a practical exercise to reinforce your skills.
What's included
4 videos1 assignment
4 videos•Total 21 minutes
- Track Changes: Markup a Document•7 minutes
- Accept and Reject Changes•3 minutes
- Add Comments•7 minutes
- Exercise 13•3 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Track Changes and Comments - Assessment•15 minutes
This section will teach you how to finalize your document by checking for errors and ensuring it is ready for printing or sharing. You’ll also learn about document protection and how to secure your work before sharing.
What's included
4 videos1 assignment
4 videos•Total 25 minutes
- Printing Documents•7 minutes
- Check a Document for Issues, Compatibility, and Accessibility•8 minutes
- Document Protection•6 minutes
- Exercise 14•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Finalize a Document - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will explore how to use Word 365 Online, focusing on document creation, sharing, and collaboration. You’ll also learn how to integrate Word Online with Microsoft Teams for better team communication and workflow.
What's included
3 videos1 assignment
3 videos•Total 10 minutes
- Work with Files in Word Online•4 minutes
- Share Files with Others•4 minutes
- Add a Word Document to Microsoft Teams•2 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Word 365 Online - Assessment•15 minutes
In the final module, we will recap the key takeaways from the course and offer guidance on continuing your learning journey with Microsoft Word 365. You’ll be encouraged to practice and explore more advanced features as you move forward.
What's included
1 video2 assignments
1 video•Total 1 minute
- Course Close•1 minute
2 assignments•Total 75 minutes
- Full Course Practice Assessment•15 minutes
- Full Course Assessment•60 minutes
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Frequently asked questions
This course is designed to introduce beginners to Microsoft Word 365, providing comprehensive training on the key features and functions of the software. You’ll learn how to use Word 365 for creating, editing, formatting, and sharing documents effectively. The course covers everything from basic navigation, document creation, and text formatting to more advanced features like mail merge, track changes, and document protection.
After completing this course, you will be proficient in using Microsoft Word 365 for everyday tasks, including document creation, formatting, editing, and collaboration. You’ll be able to confidently create professional documents, use advanced tools like track changes and mail merge, and understand how to protect and share your work. Whether you’re preparing reports, creating newsletters, or collaborating on projects, you’ll have the skills to use Word 365 efficiently.
No prior experience with Microsoft Word is required. This course is designed specifically for beginners, and it starts with the basics, such as navigating the Word interface and creating documents. However, having a basic understanding of computers and familiarity with how word processors generally work will help you follow along more smoothly.
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