This Microsoft Word glossary explains the words that tutorials, help pages and colleagues use about Word, in plain English. Each term has a one-line definition and, where we have one, a link to a full guide. If you are new to Word, the free Microsoft Word Beginners Hub teaches these ideas step by step.
In this guide, you’ll find 54 terms from A to Z, from AutoCorrect to Zoom. Everything applies to Word for Windows in Microsoft 365, Word 2021, 2019 and 2016, and most terms are the same on a Mac.
The Word Screen in One Picture
A
- AutoCorrect: Fixes common typing mistakes and turns codes such as (c) into © as you type. See how to turn off AutoCorrect.
B
- Backstage view: The full-screen menu that opens when you click File, with Save, Print, Share and Options.
- Bookmark: A hidden named marker in the text that links and cross-references can jump to.
- Break: A marker that forces text onto a new page, column or section. See Page break vs section break.
- Bullets: Small symbols at the start of each item in an unnumbered list. See how to create bulleted lists.
C
- Caption: A numbered label under a picture or table, such as Figure 1.
- Compatibility Mode: Shown when you open an old .doc file; newer features are switched off. See Doc vs docx.
- Content control: A box in a form for text, dates, check boxes or drop-down lists. See how to create a fillable form.
- Cursor: The flashing line that shows where your typing will appear. Also called the insertion point.
D
- Dialog box: A small window of settings, such as Paragraph or Font, opened from the ribbon.
- Dialog launcher: The tiny arrow in the corner of a ribbon group that opens its dialog box. See Microsoft Word ribbon.
- Document: A single Word file, usually saved as .docx.
- Draft view: A plain view that hides page edges, pictures and headers so you can just type.
E
- Endnote: A note collected at the end of the document instead of the bottom of the page.
F
- Field: A placeholder Word fills in for you, such as a page number, date or table of contents.
- Font: The style of the letters, such as Aptos or Times New Roman. See how to change the font.
- Footer: Text repeated at the bottom of every page, such as page numbers. See how to remove headers and footers.
- Footnote: A numbered note printed at the bottom of the page it belongs to.
- Format Painter: Copies formatting from one place and paints it onto other text. See how to use Format Painter.
- Formatting marks: Hidden symbols such as ¶ and · that show paragraphs, spaces and breaks. Toggle with Ctrl + Shift + 8. See how to remove formatting marks.
G
- Gridlines: Faint lines that help you line things up; they never print. See how to remove gridlines.
H
- Hanging indent: The first line starts at the margin and the following lines are indented, as in reference lists. See how to create a hanging indent.
- Header: Text repeated at the top of every page, such as a title or logo. See how to add a header on the first page only.
- Hyperlink: Clickable text that opens a web page, file or another place in the document. See how to insert a hyperlink.
I
- Indent: The gap between the margin and the start of a line. See how to indent in Word.
K
- KeyTips: The letters that appear on the ribbon when you press Alt, for using it from the keyboard.
L
- Line spacing: The gap between lines inside a paragraph, such as single or double. See Line spacing options.
M
- Macro: A recorded set of steps Word can repeat for you; saved in .docm files. See how to add the Developer tab.
- Mail merge: Combines a letter or label with a list of names to make many personalised copies. See Mail merge shortcuts.
- Margins: The blank space around the edge of the page. See how to change margins.
N
- Navigation Pane: A side panel that lists your headings and search results so you can jump around.
- Normal template: Normal.dotm, the template every new blank document is based on. See how to change the default font.
O
- Orientation: Whether the page is upright (portrait) or sideways (landscape). See how to rotate one page.
P
- Page break: A marker that starts a new page. Insert one with Ctrl + Enter. See how to remove a page break.
- Paragraph: Any text that ends where you pressed Enter, even a single word.
- Paragraph spacing: Extra space before or after a whole paragraph, separate from line spacing.
- Print Layout: The normal view that shows pages exactly as they will print.
Q
- Quick Access Toolbar: The small row of buttons such as Save and Undo above or below the ribbon.
R
- Read Mode: A view for reading on screen, with the ribbon hidden.
- Ribbon: The strip of tabs and buttons across the top of Word. See Microsoft Word ribbon map.
S
- Section: A part of the document with its own margins, orientation, columns and headers. See Section breaks.
- Section break: A marker that starts a new section. See Section breaks in Word.
- Style: A saved set of formatting, such as Heading 1 or Normal, that you apply in one click. See Styles and headings shortcuts.
T
- Tab (ribbon): One of the named pages of the ribbon, such as Home or Insert.
- Tab stop: A position on the ruler that the Tab key jumps to.
- Table of contents: An automatic list of headings with page numbers, built from heading styles. See how to create a table of contents.
- Template: A starting-point file (.dotx) that opens as a new document each time. See Word file types.
- Text box: A movable box of text you can place anywhere on the page.
- Text wrapping: How text flows around a picture or shape, such as Square or In Line with Text. See how to move an image freely.
- Theme: A matching set of colours, fonts and effects for the whole document.
- Track Changes: Records every edit so others can accept or reject it. See Track changes shortcuts.
W
- Watermark: Faint text or a picture behind the page, such as DRAFT. See how to add a watermark.
- Word count: The number of words in the document or selection. Press Ctrl + Shift + G. See how to insert a word counter.
Z
- Zoom: Makes the page look bigger or smaller on screen without changing the printed size.
FAQs
What is the ribbon in Word?
The strip of tabs and buttons across the top of Word. See the Microsoft Word ribbon map for every tab.
What is the difference between a style and formatting?
Formatting is a single change, such as bold. A style is a saved set of formatting, such as Heading 1, that you can apply and update everywhere at once.
What is a field in Word?
A placeholder Word fills in for you, such as a page number, the date or a table of contents. Press F9 to update one.
What is the Normal template?
Normal.dotm, the template every new blank document starts from. Changing its font or spacing changes every new document.
What does Compatibility Mode mean?
The file is an old .doc document. Word turns off newer features until you convert it from File > Info.
What is Backstage view?
The full-screen File menu with Save, Print, Share, Export and Options.
Conclusion
This Microsoft Word glossary covers the terms you will meet most. Bookmark it and come back whenever a tutorial uses a word you do not know.
For a guided start, the Beginners Hub puts these ideas into practice, and the Microsoft Word ribbon map shows where every command lives.
Related Tutorials
- Microsoft Word Ribbon: Easy Map of All 11 Tabs (Free PDF)
- Microsoft Word Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet (Free PDF)
- Doc vs Docx: Easy Guide to 4 Word File Types
Word Tutorials
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Browse the complete collection for help with formatting, layout, pages, tables, images, and document setup.
For Microsoft support documentation, visit the official Microsoft guidance.
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