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Last Updated on Apr 8, 2022 by Tom Buford

I've had people ask me how to write a letter on a computer. For people below the age of 35 that may seem like an cool question. Simply for people who for whatever reason have not had experience with computers, it could exist exhilarating and daunting at the same fourth dimension.

So, how do you write a letter on a computer? If yous ever used a typewriter, you can write a alphabetic character or whatever other document on a computer. The keyboards are very similar. The showtime flim-flam is to locate the application or software program that y'all'll use to produce the document. For this tutorial, we'll prove y'all how to write documents in two dissimilar ways. The 1 you choose depends on the outcome you want.

Keyboards – typing line returns and paragraphs

If you are, as I am, old enough to call back taking typing classes in school, only have not had experience typing on a calculator, there are a few things you'll demand to learn nearly basic maneuvering on the computer keyboard.

The keys on virtually computer keyboards are arranged very similarly to old-school typewriter keyboards.

You lot won't have any issues with the position of the letter keys. They haven't changed on standard computer keyboards. At that place are some keyboards on which the messages are bundled differently, merely if yous are using the standard keyboard that came with your computer, you'll find little to no difference in the letter positions.

To make capital letter letters on a reckoner keyboard:

Use the shift key merely equally you did on a typewriter. If you lot need to type consecutive letters in caps, tap the caps lock cardinal.

Hint: In the computerized world where social media seems to determine what is and isn't acceptable in personal communication, the utilise of all caps to write sentences is seen equally yelling at your reader. Don't utilize all caps unless they are necessary.

To move to another line using a calculator keyboard:

On manual typewriters, when we had typed to the end of the line, nosotros had to use the carriage return to motion the paper railroad vehicle dorsum to the right to begin the next line. On electric typewriters, we used the return key to exercise the play a trick on. On computer keyboards, line returns are handled automatically inside a paragraph. Simply keep typing. You'll notice the typing volition automatically proceed on the next line when the current line is full. You should not need to manually render to offset the next line as long equally you are typing a full paragraph of continuous text without lists, etc..

To kickoff a new paragraph when writing on a estimator:

This is where the return key comes into play. When y'all stop the current paragraph, use the return fundamental to motion to the beginning of a new line. In most cases, standard settings in the app will cause in that location to be a space betwixt paragraphs.

Nearly basic settings will accept all paragraphs beginning without the beginning line being indented. For about personal advice, indenting the first line of a paragraph is no longer required or expected. If, however, you prefer to kickoff new paragraphs with an indention, the tab fundamental will indent about five spaces in most apps.

Important: Computers can't impress your documents by themselves. They don't have printers congenital in and must take one attached before the alphabetic character you type can be printed on paper and mailed.

If you don't have a printer, there are alternative ways to deliver your correspondence to its intended recipient such as emailing the letter to your intended recipient.

The following instructions assume you take a mouse connected to your computer. If you accept a laptop with a touch on pad or a touch screen with no mouse, tap the pad or screen when the instructions say click.

Method 1 – Write a letter on a calculator with piddling or no formatting

Any Windows or Mac computer produced within the past decade or 2 has a bones text writer included.

If your reckoner is a Windows computer no more than than five years old, information technology probably runs on Windows x. Yous'll look for an application called Notepad.

To notice Notepad on a Windows 10 computer:

  • Click the Get-go button in the lower left of the screen. (You'll see an alphabetized list of applications that are available on your calculator.)
  • Locate ane named Windows Accessories and click on it. Another list of apps will appear.
  • Look down that listing until you find Notepad.
  • Click Notepad to open it.
Windows 10 Start button with search bar

Windows x Start push with search bar

You can besides type Notepad into the search bar on the offset page. You should see Notepad in the suggestions it offers.

Notepad will open to a blank page ready for you to type in. At that place are basic adjustments that can be made to the document, such as the size of text used, but yous'll find that Notepad is best for those times when you don't need anything fancy – only a way to type out a note to someone.

If your computer is a Mac, you'll look for an awarding called TextEdit.

To find TextEdit on a Mac computer:

MacOS search icon - top right tool bar

MacOS search icon – top correct tool bar

In the top right corner of your screen, look for a small icon that looks similar a magnifying drinking glass.

  • Click on the magnifying drinking glass icon to open a search box.
  • In that box type TextEdit. You lot'll very quickly be shown a link to open TextEdit. It may say TextEdit.app.
  • Click that link and TextEdit will open, ready for you to type a note or letter.

Similar NotePad for Windows, TextEdit is quite limited in the amount of formatting you can do and the ability to add other features to your letter.

Method two – Write a letter with some formatting and pictures

Before we get into learning how to practice some basic formatting on your letter, we need to embrace some universal instructions that should apply, whichever app you utilise.

Note: These additional instructions practise not apply to Notepad for Windows or TextEdit for Mac, which we talked virtually in the previous department. They will, however, work with the next 2 apps that nosotros talk about–Wordpad for Windows and Pages for Mac, as well equally Microsoft Word, OpenOffice, and LibreOffice.

To brand letters assuming as yous type:

We've written more detailed instruction on this topic hither. For simplicity'southward sake, I'll just show you a adequately universal style to brand characters bold.

But before you type the give-and-take or letter that you want to be bold, hold downwardly the command cardinal and at the aforementioned time, tap the "B" key (on a Windows computer). Hold down the control key and tap the "B" key (on a Mac calculator). Type the letter or word that you want to exist bolded. At the end of the word, hold downwards the control or command key and tap the "B" cardinal over again. That will return you to regular text without bold.

To brand messages italic equally you type:

The instructions for italicizing messages are almost the same every bit for bolding. The only difference is that when yous agree downwardly the control or control primal, you lot'll tap the "I" key. Once more, to stop italicizing, repeat the procedure.

To underline characters equally you type:

Once more, use the same instruction every bit for bolding except while you're holding down the control or command cardinal, tap the "U" key. Repeat the process at the terminate of your underlined word to return to normal typing.

To bold, italicize, or underline words yous've already typed:

You lot'll need to do what is called "selecting" the text. If yous are using a mouse with your desktop computer or laptop, point your mouse just before the word you lot desire to bold. Then, click your mouse before the word and hold it while you drag across to the stop of the words or words. Release the mouse. The text that you desire to bold should exist highlighted. If you take a laptop and don't use a mouse, practice the aforementioned clicks using the trackpad on your laptop.

At present, with the discussion(s) all the same highlighted, hold the control fundamental (on Windows) or control key (on a Mac) and tap the "B" to bold, "I" to italicize, or "U" to underline.

Click your mouse elsewhere to turn off the highlight and continue typing.

Any Windows computer produced in the past twenty-v years includes an application chosen Wordpad.

Wordpad is a little more sophisticated than Notepad which was mentioned in Method 1 above. Wordpad allows you to blazon your letter and apply more than bonny fonts (type style) than Notepad allows.

In Wordpad you can change the size and wait of your letters, include photos in your letter or document, and more.

To find Wordpad on a Windows 10 figurer:

  • Click the Start button in the lower left of the screen. (You'll run into an alphabetized list of applications that are available on your computer.)
  • Locate one named Windows Accessories and click on it. Another list of apps volition appear.
  • Look downwardly that list until you notice Wordpad.
  • Click Wordpad to open up it.

But as with Notepad in section i of this article, yous can also type Wordpad into the search bar in the bottom left corner of the showtime page. You should run into Wordpad in the suggestions it offers.

To discover Pages on a Mac computer:

If your figurer is a Mac, yous'll wait for an application called Pages.

In the peak right corner of your screen, look for a minor icon that looks like a magnifying glass.

  • Click on the magnifying glass icon to open a search box.
  • In that box type Pages. You'll very quickly be shown a link to open up Pages. It may say Pages.app.
  • Click that link and Pages will open, ready for y'all to type a notation or letter.

Like WordPad for Windows, Pages allows much more formatting yous tin exercise with TextEdit, including the ability to add images and other features to your letter. Pages on a Mac computer is a full featured give-and-take processing application and is actually more accurately compared to Microsoft Word.

Keep Your Writing Apps Handy

To proceed your newly found writing applications handy, yous can "pivot" them to the lesser of your screen where you can find and open them quickly.

To Pivot Apps to the Task Bar on Windows Computers

When y'all locate the application that y'all want to keep handy, correct-click on the title of the awarding and from the box that flies out, select Pin To Task Bar.

To Pin Apps to the Dock on Mac Computers

Pin apps to dock on Mac computers

Pivot apps to dock on Mac computers

With the application open, notice its icon in the dock (the bar across the bottom of the screen). Right-click the icon and from the small menu that pops up, select Options, then Keep in Dock.

Hopefully, with these instructions, you'll notice it easy to write a letter on a computer. If you can do that, you're on your style to typing whatever other type of document also.