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Eng2116-Tabs Instructions

The document provides instructions on how to use tabs effectively in Microsoft Word. It describes the different types of tab stops (left, right, center, decimal) and how to set precise tab stops using the ruler or Tabs dialog box. The document also explains how to change default tab spacing and clear individual or all manual tab stops.

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50 views

Eng2116-Tabs Instructions

The document provides instructions on how to use tabs effectively in Microsoft Word. It describes the different types of tab stops (left, right, center, decimal) and how to set precise tab stops using the ruler or Tabs dialog box. The document also explains how to change default tab spacing and clear individual or all manual tab stops.

Uploaded by

api-277379068
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Jacob Cole

Eng 2116
Professor Arnold
2/9/15

Tabs in Microsoft Word


Introduction: A Tab in word processing terms is the jump your cursor makes from one position
to another when you press the tab key on your keyboard. By default, each time you press the Tab
key, the insertion point will move 1/2 inch to the right. By adding tab stops to the ruler, you can
change the size of the tabs, and you can even have more than one type of alignment in a single
line.
Process Description: In this tutorial you will learn how to use tabs effectively in your Word
document
Materials: Materials necessary for this instruction manual are the Microsoft Word, a computer
that supports this software, and a keypad and mouse for input devices.

Set tab stops by using the ruler


1. Click the tab selector at the left end of the ruler until it displays the type of tab that you
want.

2. Click the ruler where you want to set the tab stop.

Tab stops on the ruler


A Left Tab stop sets the start position of text that will then run to the right as you type.

A Center Tab stop sets the position of the middle of the text. The text centers on this
position as you type.

A Right Tab stop sets the right end of the text. As you type, the text moves to the left.

A Decimal Tab stop aligns numbers around a decimal point. Independent of the number of
digits, the decimal point will be in the same position. (You can align numbers around a
decimal character only; you cannot use the decimal tab to align numbers around a different
character, such as a hyphen or an ampersand symbol.)

Jacob Cole
Eng 2116
Professor Arnold
2/9/15

A Left Tab stop sets the start position of text that will then run to the right as you type.

A Bar Tab stop doesn't position text. It inserts a vertical bar at the tab position.

Set tab stops by using the Tabs dialog box


If you want your tab stops at an exact positions that you can't get by using the ruler, or if you
want to insert a specific character (leader) before the tab, you can use the Tabs dialog box.
1. Click the Page Layout tab, click the Paragraph Dialog Box Launcher, and then click
Tabs.

2. Under Tab stop position, type the location where you want to set the tab stop.
3. Under Alignment, click the type of tab stop that you want.
4. To add dots with your tab stop, or to add another type of leader, click the option that you
want under Leader.
5. Click Set.
6. Repeat steps 2-5 to add another tab stop, or click OK when you are finished.

Add dotted lines, or leaders between tab stops


You can add dot leaders between tab stops, as well as other formatting options in the Tabs dialog
box.
1. Type the text that you want to appear before the leader.
2. On the horizontal ruler, set the tab stop that you want.

Jacob Cole
Eng 2116
Professor Arnold
2/9/15

3. Click the Page Layout tab, click the Paragraph Dialog Box Launcher, and then click
Tabs.

4. Under Leader, click the leader option that you want.


5. Click OK, and then press TAB.

Change the spacing between the default tab stops


If you set manual tab stops, the default tab stops are interrupted by the manual tab stops that you
set. Manual tab stops that are set on the ruler will override the default tab stop settings.
1. On the Page Layout tab, click the Paragraph Dialog Box Launcher.

2. In the Paragraph dialog box, click Tabs.


3. In the Default tab stops box, enter the amount of spacing that you want between the
default tab stops.
Now when you press the TAB key, your tab will stop across the page at the distance that
you specified.

Clear tab stop spacing


If you added manual tab stops, you can clear the spacing for one tab stop or for all manual tab
stops. After you clear the spacing, the tab stop characters move back to their default locations.
1. On the Page Layout tab, click the Paragraph Dialog Box Launcher.

Jacob Cole
Eng 2116
Professor Arnold
2/9/15

1. In the Paragraph dialog box, click Tabs.


2. In the list under Tab stop position, click the tab stop position that you want to clear, and
then click Clear. To remove the spacing from all manual tab stops, click Clear All.
3. Repeat step 3 for each tab stop position that you want to clear.
4. Click OK.

Troubleshooting
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Solution

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