Let’s look at how to do this customization and icons you likely want to add to your QAT. Not only is the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) one of the most time-saving tools in Microsoft Word, but it is easy to customize. How long might it take to browse a folder to select the correct Word file? Steps 1 and 2 in the second example literally take one second each. It isn’t just that there are three steps instead of five that saves time.

Click the Email Icon in the Quick Access Toolbar (which opens a blank email with the file already attached).

Click the Save Icon in the Quick Access Toolbar.

Browse to locate the file and attach it to the email.Either minimize Word to find Outlook or open Outlook from the Taskbar.You have just completed proofreading, editing or composing a document in Microsoft Word and now you need to email it to someone. One task we do frequently is proofreading a document and then distributing the document via email. (And, yes, sometimes it is frustrating to click exactly on a period when it the only change.) Do an internet search for “track changes in Word” to see more details from Microsoft. With the hand-written changes, you have to review the document again once the handwritten notes have been followed. This can be tedious with a document with many changes, but the payoff is when you are finished, you have the final version.

Using Track Changes allows you to see all changes that have been made together with the original text. When many lawyers make final edits on a document, they print it off and make their edits with a pen.

One of those efficiencies is using Track Changes in Microsoft Word. Often there are easier ways to do our everyday tasks, but we can’t use more efficient techniques if we do not know about them.

A word for saving time