Lesson 9 of 1210 minOffice skills

Google Docs and Word.

Letters, reports, assignments, CVs: almost every job needs documents that look neat and professional. Today you'll learn the features that make documents look polished in minutes, in both Google Docs and Microsoft Word.

The features that matter most

Feature	Why	Where
Headings (styles)	Consistent titles, automatic table of contents	Docs: "Normal text" dropdown · Word: Styles on the Home tab
Bullets and numbering	Clear lists	Toolbar list buttons
Tables	Neat data and comparisons	Insert → Table
Line spacing	Readability (1.15 or 1.5)	Format → Line & paragraph spacing / Home → Line spacing
Header and footer	Name, title on every page	Insert → Header/Footer
Page numbers	Long documents	Insert → Page numbers
Table of contents	Reports and projects	Insert → Table of contents (needs headings)
Comments and suggestions	Feedback without changing text	Docs: Suggesting mode · Word: Track Changes

Make any document look professional

One clear font (Calibri, Arial or similar), size 11–12 for body text.
Use Heading 1/2 styles instead of manually making text big and bold.
Consistent spacing; avoid pressing Enter many times to create space.
Use tables for data, not spaces and tabs.
Align text left (justified text can create strange gaps).
Export as PDF before sending (File → Download → PDF / Save As → PDF).

Useful shortcuts

Ctrl + B / I / U   Bold / Italic / Underline
Ctrl + Z / Y       Undo / Redo
Ctrl + F           Find
Ctrl + H           Find and replace
Ctrl + Enter       New page (page break)
Ctrl + K           Insert link

Google Docs vs Word

Google Docs	Microsoft Word
Free, online, auto-saves	Desktop app (paid) + free web version
Best for sharing and editing together	Common in offices, advanced layouts
Voice typing (Tools → Voice typing)	Dictate button in newer versions

Files move between them easily: Docs can download as .docx, and Word files open in Docs.

Quick check+10 XP

You need an automatic table of contents. What must you use first?

The table of contents is built from heading styles.

Final check+20 XP

How should you add space between sections?

Proper spacing tools keep layouts neat when text changes.

Your task (30 min)

Create a 2-page document (a project report or "About me") in Google Docs or Word with: Heading 1/2 styles, a bullet list, a table, a header with your name, page numbers and a table of contents. Export it as PDF.

Lesson 9 complete!

You can format documents with styles, lists, tables, headers, page numbers and a table of contents, and share and export them. Next: Google Sheets and Excel basics.

Next: Google Sheets and Excel basics →