Menu Toolbar

• 1). Launch Word either by double-clicking the "Word" icon on your desktop, or by clicking the "Start" button on the Windows taskbar and then clicking "All Programs" and "Microsoft Office." Click "Microsoft Office Word" in the list of programs. Alternatively, Word may be in the list on the left side of the Start menu if you've used it recently.
  
  
• 2). Click the blue "File" tab in the upper-left corner of the Microsoft Word program window, then click "New."
  
  
• 3). Click "Blank document" to open a new, blank page. By default, this option is highlighted in yellow. You can also click one of the other template options such as "Blog post" or "Sample templates." When you click one of these, you will see a preview in the right pane.
  
  
• 4). Click the large, square "Create" button underneath the preview. If the template you clicked does not reside on your computer, instead of the "Create" button, you will need to click the "Download" button to download that file template. Your new document will appear in the program window.
  
  

Keyboard

• 1). Open Microsoft Word.
  
  
• 2). Press and hold down the "Ctrl" key.
  
  
• 3). Press the "N" key. A new, blank document appears in the Microsoft Word program window.