Word Videos

Word 2010 Ribbon: A Video Guide

What Is the Ribbon in Word 2010?

The ribbon is the home of every command and function you need for your document. It's the band of tabs, groups and commands running across the top of the workspace. Debuting in Word 2007, the ribbon replaced the menu-and-toolbar layout of earlier Word versions. Here's a closer look at how it all fits together.

Tabs, Groups and Commands Explained

The ribbon is split into tabs — Home, Insert, Page Layout, References and others. Each tab contains groups, such as the Table of Contents group and the Footnotes group. Within every group are the individual commands, including Table of Contents, Add Text and Update table.

Using a Command on the Ribbon

Let's put a command to work. Start by generating sample text — typing random(5, 5) gives you five paragraphs of five lines each. Then highlight a few words, go to the Home tab, and click the bold button to make that text bold.

Dialog Launchers

Some groups have a dialog launcher that opens a new dialog with extra commands when clicked. These launchers typically sit in the bottom right-hand corner of the group. Click the font group's dialog launcher, for example, and additional font-related commands appear. Close it when you're done.

Contextual Tabs

The ribbon can also display contextual tabs, which show up when you select certain elements in your document. To see it happen, insert an image: place the cursor, press Enter, open the Insert tab, click Picture, and double-click the "Happy Penguins" image. Because the picture is selected, the Picture Tools tab appears in the ribbon. Click elsewhere to deselect the image and the Picture Tools tab disappears — select the image again and it comes back.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ribbon in Word 2010?
The Ribbon is the set of tabs, groups and commands arranged across the top of the workspace. It arrived in Word 2007 and replaced the menu-and-toolbar system of earlier Word versions.
How are tabs, groups and commands arranged on the Ribbon?
Every tab — Home, Insert, Page Layout, References and others — contains groups, and each group holds individual commands. The Table of Contents group, for instance, contains commands like Table of Contents, Add Text and Update table.
What is a dialog launcher on the Ribbon?
Some groups have dialog launchers, usually found in the bottom right-hand corner of the group. Clicking one opens a dialog with more commands for that group, such as additional font options.
What are contextual tabs in the Ribbon?
Contextual tabs appear in the Ribbon when you select certain elements in your document. Selecting a picture, for example, brings up the Picture Tools tab, and deselecting the picture makes it vanish again.
How do I make text bold using the Ribbon?
Highlight the text you want to change, open the Home tab, and click the bold button in the font group.

Keep Learning

Move on to the next lesson on the Quick Access Toolbar, or return to the Word Videos home page.

Next: The Quick Access Toolbar Home

Once you're comfortable with the ribbon, the Quick Access Toolbar and Backstage View are the natural next stops — both build on the same tabs, groups and commands you've just explored. Practising with sample text and a picture is a quick way to see contextual tabs and dialog launchers in action.