Google Docs Fundamentals

Google Docs Fundamentals
Formatting Text
Google Docs automatically use Arial 11 point font. Fonts
are measured in a system called points. When formatting
text, we usually change the font using the font
selector menu. Once we’ve selected a font we usually
change its point size from the font size pull down menu.
We can stylize a font by selecting bold or italics. Bold
and italics are really other fonts in the world of typography.
Bold and italics are a way to change the appearance
of text. Bold text is often used to add emphasis to
a word or a line of text. Italic fonts are used for titles or
worlds that can stand on their own. Both of these are
used to add emphasis. Citations are another common
use of bold or italics.
An underline option is available in most word processors
like Google Docs. Underline text is used less often
today. Underlining was used with typewriters to add
emphasis or in citations. It’s used less often today because
underlined words are often seen as links to web
site or resources. Don’t use underline to add emphasis
to words unless used in a citation or you are told to do
so.
With the advent of computer technology we have other
ways to add emphasis to words. We can change the
color of text. Next to the underline button we have a
color palette selector. Like bold or italics, its important
to use color in text to add emphasis sparingly. Don’t use
color in all your text unless its applied a high contrast
background. Black text on a white background is the
easiest to read because there is a lot of contrast. Colorful
text is often used in flyers, magazine covers and with
very large text. It is also used sparingly.
Text Styles
Each time you start a new document, Google Docs uses
the Arial font at 11 points. This is called the default font.
It can be tedious to change this font each time you create
a new document. Google, like most modern word
processors, uses styles to format bodies of text. To the
left of the font selector pull down menu we see a style
menu that reads normal text. This normal text is set to
Arial 11 point.
Let’s change this style to another font and size. Use the
font selector to choose Georgia and change the size to
12 points. Click on the arrow next to normal text. On
the right side of the word normal text is an arrow pointing
to the right. Move your mouse over to this arrow
and click on it.
We have two options. We can apply the normal text
style, in which case the font and size will be changed
back to Arial 11 point. We can update normal text style
to match our current font choice. This means that the
normal text will change from Arial 11 point to Georgia
12 point. Click on the option to update normal text to
match.
Click on the normal text pull down menu. The Normal
Text is now set to Georgia 12 point. Type Hello World or
anything you like.
Digital Maestro 8