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Use Google Docs

Special Features

In addition to the basic word processing features, Google Drive also offers a number of unique features that can help you prepare and share your work more effectively:

  • Google Drive docs are saved online, so you can access them from any computer with an Internet connection. You will never need to email yourself an attachment again!
  • If you are working on a group report, you can share your document with your group members. This allows all group members to view and edit the document at the same time, from different computers. You can even chat with your group members about the document as you view it.
  • Google Drive saves your document every few seconds and keeps a history of the saves. If you decide you don't like the changes you have made, you can easily revert to an older version.
  • Once you are finished with your document and are ready to print it, you can download it in a variety of formats, such as a Word Document or a PDF.

Creating and Saving a Google doc

The process of creating a Google doc is simple.

Once you have logged in to your Google Drive account, click on the "New" button, and choose "Google Docs." Then select either "Blank document" or "From a template"

It's as simple as that! You are now ready to begin working on your first Google document.

 

Remember to name your document, just as you would in any word processing program. To name your document, look to the top of your screen, at the box that should say "Untitled Document"

Clicking in this box will allow you to rename your document.

 

One of Google Drive's great features is that it saves your work automatically as you make changes, so you don't need to worry about saving your progress.

Basic Word Processing Features

Like many other word processing programs, Google docs offer the following standard features:

  • A limited variety of fonts, font sizes, and font colors
  • Ability to enter text in regular, bold, and italic typefaces
  • Spell check and word count
  • Numbered and bulleted lists
  • Ability to highlight, cut, copy, and paste text
  • Ability to insert links, images, tables, and equations
  • Ability to save and print your documents