Word Processing

Alignment
(1) Arranging data to line up with a required format on a screen or printed form. (2) Arranging
data in memory in increments of the fundamental "word size" of the computer in order to
improve response times.
Blocked Paragraph
In block format, the entire text is aligned to the left and single spaced.
Bullets
A bulleted list or bullet list is a list of items preceded with bullets instead of numbers or other
objects.
Business Letter
A letter from one company to another or from a company to a customer or client.
Drop-down Menu
a graphical control element, similar to a listbox, that allows the user to choose one value from a
list. When a drop-down list is inactive, it displays a single value.
Facsimile
Also called fax. Telecommunications. a method or device for transmitting documents, drawings,
photographs
Font
A design for a set of characters. A font is the combination of typeface and other qualities, such
as size, pitch, and spacing.
Format (Documents)
The term "format" can also be used to describe the page layout or style of text in a word
processing document. When you format the layout of a page, you can modify the page size,
page margins, and line spacing. When you format the text, you can choose the font and font
size, as well as text styles, such as bold, underlined, and italics.
Hanging Paragraph
A paragraph in which the first line is set to the left margin, but all subsequent lines are indented.
Hard Copy
a printed copy of information from a computer.
Indented Paragraph
In word processing, the word indent is used to describe the distance, or number of blank spaces
used to separate a paragraph from the left or right margins.
Memorandum
a usually brief written message from one person or department in an organization, company,
etc., to another
Menu Bar
a horizontal bar, typically located at the top of the screen below the title bar, containing dropdown menus.

Personal Business Letter

A personal business letter is written from an individual to a company or organization.
Proofreading Symbols
the act of reading (copy or printer's proofs) to detect and mark errors to be corrected
Smart Art
SmartArt is a way to turn ordinary text into something more visually appealing. It can be used to
draw attention to important information or to make information easier to interpret and
understand.
Soft Copy
a legible version of a piece of data that is not printed on a physical medium, especially as stored
or displayed on a computer.
Subscript
(1) In word processing and scientific notation, a digit or symbol that appears below the line; for
example, H O, the symbol for water. Contrast with superscript. (2) In programming, a method for
referencing data in a table.
2

Superscript
A symbol or character that appears slightly above a line, as in this example: r2. Footnote
numbers appearing in text are also superscripts. A symbol or character that appears slightly
below a line is called a subscript.
Task Bar
a bar at the edge of the display of a graphical user interface that allows quick access to current
or favorite applications.
Template
The term template, when used in the context of word processing software, refers to a sample
document that has already some details in place; those can be adapted (that is
added/completed, removed or changed, differently from a fill-in-the-blank approach as in a form)
either by hand or through an automated iterative
Thesaurus
a thesaurus is a reference work that lists words grouped together according to similarity of
meaning (containing synonyms and sometimes antonyms), in contrast to a dictionary, which
provides definitions for words, and generally lists them in alphabetical order.
Title Bar
a horizontal bar at the top of a window, bearing the name of the program and typically the name
of the currently active document.
Tool Bar
a strip of icons used to perform certain functions.
Widow & Orphan Protect

Word Art
Special effects in Microsoft Word that change the appearance of text. Also available in other
Microsoft Office applications, Word Art can be used to add color, outlines and shadows to
regular text.
Word Processing
Word processing is the phrase used to describe using a computer to create, edit, and print
documents. Of all computer applications, word processing is the most common. To perform
word processing, you need a computer, a special program called a word processor, and a
printer.
Word Wrap
A word processing feature that moves words to the next line automatically as you type based on
the current right margin setting. Some word processing programs allow word wrap to be turned
off for writing source code.
Databases
Database
A database management system (DBMS) is a computer software application that interacts with
the user, other applications, and the database itself to capture and analyze data. A generalpurpose DBMS is designed to allow the definition, creation, querying, update, and
administration of databases.
Field
In computer science, data that has several parts, known as a record, can be divided into fields.
Relational databases arrange data as sets of database records, also called rows. Each record
consists of several fields; the fields of all records form the columns.
File
A file is the common storage unit in a computer. All programs and data are contained in a file,
and the computer reads and writes files. A folder holds one or more files, and it can be empty
with just a name.
Footer
In a document or report, common text that appears at the bottom of every page. It usually
contains the page number.
Header
In information technology, header refers to supplemental data placed at the beginning of a block
of data being stored or transmitted. In data transmission, the data following the header are
sometimes called the payload or body.
Record
A record type is a data type that describes such values and variables. Most modern computer
languages allow the programmer to define new record types. The definition includes specifying
the datatype of each field and an identifier (name or label) by which it can be accessed.
Spreadsheets
Active Cell

Alternatively referred to as a cell pointer or selected cell, an active cell is a rectangular box,
highlighting the cell in a spreadsheet. It helps identify what cell is being working with and where
data will be entered.
FIll Handle
In Microsoft Excel, a fill handle is a feature that allows the user to extend (and fill) a series of
numbers, dates, or even text to a desired number of cells. In the active cell of the spreadsheet,
the fill handle is a small black box at the bottom right corner, as shown in the image to the right.
Formula
A formula is an expression telling the computer what mathematical operation to perform upon a
specific value. When referring to computer software,formulas are most often used in
spreadsheet programs, such as Microsoft Excel.
Function
In programming, a named section of a program that performs a specific task. In this sense, a
function is a type of procedure or routine. Some programming languages make a distinction
between a function, which returns a value, and a procedure, which performs some operation but
does not return a value.

Name Box
In Microsoft Excel, the Name Box is the box to the left of the formula bar that displays the cell
that is currently selected in the spreadsheet. If a name is defined for a cell that is selected, the
Name Box displays the name of the cell. You can use the Name Box to define a name for a
selected cell as well.
Workbook
A workbook is the MS Excel file in which you enter and store related data. A worksheet (also
known as a spreadsheet) is a collection of cells on a single sheet where you actually keep and
manipulate the data. Each workbook can contain many worksheets.
Information Technology
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
a painful condition of the hand and fingers caused by compression of a major nerve where it
passes over the carpal bones through a passage at the front of the wrist, alongside the flexor
tendons of the hand. It may be caused by repetitive movements over a long period, or by fluid
retention, and is characterized by sensations of tingling, numbness, or burning.
Encryption
Encryption is the most effective way to achieve data security. To read an encryptedfile, you must
have access to a secret key or password that enables you to decrypt it. Unencrypted data is
called plain text ; encrypted data is referred to as cipher text.
Ergonomics
the science of refining the design of products to optimize them for human use. ... Computers
and related products, such as computer desks and chairs, are frequently the focus of ergonomic
design.

Ethics
Computer ethics is a part of practical philosophy which concerns with how computing
professionals should make decisions regarding professional and social conduct.
Firewall
A firewall is a network security system designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from a
private network. Firewalls can be implemented in both hardware and software, or a combination
of both.
Hacking
Computer hacking refers to the practice of modifying or altering computer software and
hardware to accomplish a goal that is considered to be outside of the creator's original
objective. Those individuals who engage in computer hacking activities are typically referred to
as hackers.
Information Technology
the technology involving the development, maintenance, and use of computer systems,
software, and networks for the processing and distribution of data.
Internet
The Internet is not synonymous with World Wide Web. The Internet is a massive network of
networks, a networking infrastructure. It connects millions of computers together globally,
forming a network in which any computer can communicate with any other computer as long as
they are both connected to the Internet.
Intranet
a local or restricted communications network, especially a private network created using World
Wide Web software.
Local Area Network (LAN)
A local-area network (LAN) is a computer network that spans a relatively small area. Most often,
a LAN is confined to a single room, building or group of buildings, however, one LAN can be
connected to other LANs over any distance via telephone lines and radio waves.
Musculoskeletal Injury (MSI)
an injury or disorder of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves, blood vessels or related
soft tissue including a sprain, strain and inflammation, that may be caused or aggravated by
work.
Stand-alone Computer
A desktop or laptop computer that is used on its own without requiring a connection to a local
area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN).
Wide Area Network (WAN)
A computer network that spans a relatively large geographical area. Typically, a WAN consists
of two or more local-area networks (LANs). Computers connected to a wide-area network are
often connected through public networks, such as the telephone system. They can also be
connected through leased lines or satellites.

Computer Terms
Anti-virus Software
A software designed to detect and destroy computer viruses.
Application Software
Application software can be divided into two general classes: systems software and applications
software.Applications software (also called end-user programs) include such things as database
programs, word processors, Web browsers and spreadsheets.
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
An arithmetic logic unit (ALU) is a digital circuit used to perform arithmetic and logic operations.
It represents the fundamental building block of the central processing unit (CPU) of a computer.
Modern CPUs contain very powerful and complex ALUs. In addition to ALUs, modern CPUs
contain a control unit (CU)
Bit
A bit (short for binary digit) is the smallest unit of data in a computer. A bit has a single binary
value, either 0 or 1. Although computers usually provide instructions that can test and
manipulate bits, they generally are designed to store data and execute instructions in bit
multiples called bytes.
Byte
A group of binary digits or bits (usually eight) operated on as a unit. A byte considered as a unit
of memory size.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Sometimes referred to simply as the central processor, but more commonly called processor,
the CPU is the brains of the computer where most calculations take place.
Computer Desktop (Windows)
A desktop computer is a personal computer that is designed to fit conveniently on top of a
typical office desk. A desktop computer typically comes in several units that are connected
together during installation: (1) the processor, which can be in a microtower or minitower
designed to fit under the desk or in a unit that goes on top of the desk, (2) the display monitor,
(3) and input devices - usually a keyboard and a mouse.
Control Unit
The control unit (CU) is a component of a computer's central processing unit(CPU) that directs
the operation of the processor. It tells the computer's memory, arithmetic/logic unit and input and
output devices how to respond to a program's instructions. ... Most computer resources are
managed by the CU.
Dialogue Box
A movable window that is displayed on screen in response to the user selecting a menu option.
It provides the current status and available options for a particular feature in the program.
Directory
You can think of a directory as a file cabinet that contains folders that contain files. Many
graphical user interfaces use the term folder instead of directory. Computer manuals often
describe directories and file structures in terms of an inverted tree.

Gigabyte
a unit of information equal to one billion (10 ) or, strictly, 2 bytes.
9

30

Hardware
Computer hardware is the collection of physical parts of a computer system. This includes the
computer case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse. It also includes all the parts inside the computer
case, such as the hard disk drive, motherboard, video card, and many others. Computer
hardware is what you can physically touch.
Icon
an image that represents an application, a capability, or some other concept or specific entity
with meaning for the user. An icon is usually selectable but can also be a non selectable image
such as a company's logo.
Input Device
In computing, an input device is a peripheral (piece of computer hardware equipment) used to
provide data and control signals to an information processing system such as a computer or
information appliance. Examples of input devices include keyboards, mouse, scanners, digital
cameras and joysticks.
Kilobyte (KB)
a unit of memory or data equal to 1,024 (2 ) bytes.
10

Megabyte (MB)
a unit of information equal to 2 bytes or, loosely, one million bytes.
20

Modem
a device or program that enables a computer to transmit data over, for example, telephone or
cable lines. Computer information is stored digitally, whereas information transmitted over
telephone lines is transmitted in the form of analog waves.
Motherboard
a printed circuit board containing the principal components of a computer or other device, with
connectors into which other circuit boards can be slotted.
Operating System (PC/Mac)
system software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides
common services for computer programs. All computer programs, excluding firmware, require
an operating system to function.

Output Device
any device used to send data from a computer to another device or user. Most computer data
output that is meant for humans is in the form of audio or video. Thus, most output devices used
by humans are in these categories. Examples include monitors, projectors, speakers,
headphones and printers.

Peripherals
any auxiliary device such as a computer mouse or keyboard that connects to and works with the
computer in some way. Other examples of peripherals are image scanners, tape drives,
microphones, loudspeakers, webcams, and digital cameras.
Random Access Memory (RAM)
a type of computer memory that can be accessed randomly; that is, any byte of memory can be
accessed without touching the preceding bytes. RAM is the most common type of memory
found in computers and other devices, such as printers.
Read Only Memory (ROM)
Once data has been written onto a ROM chip, it cannot be removed and can only be read.
Unlike main memory (RAM), ROM retains its contents even when the computer is turned off.
Router
a networking device that forwards data packets between computer networks. Routers perform
the traffic directing functions on the Internet. A data packet is typically forwarded from one router
to another router through the networks that constitute the internetwork until it reaches its
destination node.
Scanner
A scanner is a device that captures images from photographic prints, posters, magazine pages,
and similar sources for computer editing and display.
Software
Software is a generic term for organized collections of computer data and instructions, often
broken into two major categories: system software that provides the basic non-task-specific
functions of the computer, and application software which is used by users to accomplish
specific tasks.
Storage Device
any computing hardware that is used for storing, porting and extracting data files and objects. It
can hold and store information both temporarily and permanently, and can be internal or
external to a computer, server or any similar computing device.

Server
File server: a computer and storage device dedicated to storing files. Any user on the network
can store files on the server. Print server: a computer that manages one or more printers, and a
network server is a computer that manages network traffic.
Terabyte
a unit of information equal to one million million (10 ) or strictly, 2 bytes.
12

40

Electronic Communication
Custom Animation
PowerPoint animation is a form of animation which uses Microsoft PowerPoint and similar
programs to create a game or movie. The artwork is generally created using PowerPoint's
AutoShape features, and then animated slide-by-slide or by using Custom Animation.
Data Packets
A data packet is a unit of data made into a single package that travels along a given network
path. Data packets are used in Internet Protocol (IP) transmissions for data that navigates the
Web, and in other kinds of networks.
E-Business
Electronic business; the practice of selling goods and services and carrying on other business
activities by computer, especially over the Internet. A company that uses the Internet to carry out
its business activities or to sell its products or services.
Electronic Presentation
A presentation program is a software package used to display information in the form of a slide
show. It has three major functions: an editor that allows text to be inserted and formatted, a
method for inserting and manipulating graphic images, and a slide-show system to display the
content.
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)
the authoring language used to create documents on the World Wide Web. ... HTML defines the
structure and layout of a Web document by using a variety of tags and attributes.
Internet Service Provider (ISP)
it refers to a company that provides Internet services, including personal and business access to
the Internet. ... For broadband access you typically receive the broadband modem hardware or
pay a monthly fee for this equipment that is added to your ISP account billing.
Search Engine
a program that searches for and identifies items in a database that correspond to keywords or
characters specified by the user, used especially for finding particular sites on the World Wide
Web.
Slide Sorter View
a feature included in Microsoft PowerPoint software that allows the user to see all the slides in a
presentation at one time. The slides appear in the task pane as small graphics that are arranged
in rows and columns.
Transitions
a transition is an effect that happens between each photo, slide, or video clip. For example, a
fade transition can be used to fade in or out of each picture in a slide show.
Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
A URL is one type of Uniform Resource Identifier (URI); the generic term for all types of names
and addresses that refer to objects on the World Wide Web.

Web Browser
a software application for retrieving, presenting and traversing information resources on the
World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier
(URI/URL) that may be a web page, image, video or other piece of content.
Website
Any computer on the Internet running a World-Wide Web server process. A particular website is
usually identified by the hostname part of a URL. Multiple hostnames may actually map to the
same computer in which case they are known as "virtual servers".
World Wide Web
a system of Internet servers that support specially formatted documents. The documents are
formatted in a markup language called HTML (HyperText Markup Language) that supports links
to other documents, as well as graphics, audio, and video files.