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Word Processing Software :
The word “word processor” means it processes words with pages and paragraphs. Word processors are of 3 types which are electronic, mechanical, and software.
The word processing software is used to apply the basic editing and design and also helps in manipulating the text to your pages whereas the word processor, is a device that provides editing, input, formatting, and output of the given text with some additional features.
It is a type of computer software application or an electronic device. In today’s generation, the word processor has become the word processing software or programs that are running on general-purpose computers.
Examples or Applications of a Word Processing Software :
- Wordpad
- Microsoft Word
- Lotus word pro
- Notepad
- WordPerfect (Windows only),
- AppleWorks (Mac only),
- Work pages
- OpenOffice Writer
Features :
- They are stand-alone devices that are dedicated to the function.
- Their programs are running on general-purpose computers
- It is easy to use
- Helps in changing the shape and style of the characters of the paragraphs
- Basic editing like headers & footers, bullets, numbering is being performed by it.
- It has a facility for mail merge and preview.
Functions :
- It helps in Correcting grammar and spelling of sentences
- It helps in storing and creating typed documents in a new way.
- It provides the function of Creating the documents with basic editing, saving, and printing of it or same.
- It helps in Copy the text along with moving deleting and pasting the text within a given document.
- It helps in Formatting text like bold, underlining, font type, etc.
- It provides the function of creating and editing the formats of tables.
- It helps in Inserting the various elements from some other types of software.
Advantages :
- It benefits the environment by helping in reducing the amount of paperwork.
- The cost of paper and postage waste is being reduced.
- It is used to manipulate the document text like a report
- It provides various tools like copying, deleting and formatting, etc.
- It helps in recognizing the user interface feature
- It applies the basic design to your pages
- It makes it easier for you to perform repetitive tasks
- It is a fully functioned desktop publishing program
- It is time-saving.
- It is dynamic in nature for exchanging the data.
- It produces error-free documents.
- Provide security to our documents.
Disadvantages :
- It does not give you complete control over the look and feel of your document.
- It did not develop out of computer technology.
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Word processing software helps you manipulate a text document and create or edit a text document.
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Best 15 Word Processing Software Examples
- 1. Microsoft Word
- 2. iWork Pages
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3. OpenOffice Writer
- 4. WordPerfect
- 5. FocusWriter
- 6. LibreOffice Writer
- 7. AbiWord
- 8. WPS Word
- 9. Polaris Docs
- 10. Writemonkey
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11. Dropbox Paper
- 12. Scribus
- 13. SoftMaker FreeOffice TextMaker
- 14. Zoho Docs Writer
- 15. Google Docs
- Conclusion
A quality word processing software can also provide output options such as printing or exporting a text document into other formats.
Without word processing software, you would have difficulty processing paragraphs, pages, and even papers.
Not many people know that early word processing software was standalone devices, but word processors come as lightweight software that’s easy to install with technological advancements.
Another great advantage of word processing software is that it allows you to store documents electronically, display them across screens, or fully modify documents before printing them.
Even though word processing software isn’t complex to learn, it might take a bit of time to learn how to take full advantage of the software with so many functions.
Also, keep in mind that some word processing software comes from the office bundle that includes other processing software.
In this article, you’ll learn more about word processing software and see 15 of the best examples.
Whether you’re a writer, editor, or only need quality word processing software to prepare your documents pre-printing, at least one of these 15 software will be a good pick!
Even though most word processing software has similar features and offers similar benefits, the small but significant differences between these word processing software examples can make a huge difference for personal use.
1. Microsoft Word
The most known word processing software is Microsoft Word, and chances are high you’ve used it at least on one occasion to process or create text documents.
Word is the most known word processing software because the creator of Windows creates it and it often comes integrated with the Windows operating system.
However, Word is also known for the benefits it offers. Improved search and navigational experience combined with the ability to work with others simultaneously are just some of the benefits.
Along with that, Word gives you the ability to access, share, and work on your documents from almost anywhere.
With plenty of options to create, edit, and process text, Word also has additional visual effects, turning text into diagrams, and combining visual aspects into text documents.
Instant help when creating documents is another great integration that especially helps writers. Exporting and having document flexibility is helpful when producing specific documents for your studies or work, and it’s just one of many benefits of Word.
2. iWork Pages
iWork Pages is a must-have word processing software for Apple users. Even though Microsoft Word is available for macOS, iWork is a great native alternative that helps Apple users process, create, and work with word documents.
iWork Pages was previously known as AppleWorks, and it is part of the official Apple iWork suite.
Not only Pages can help you create documents, but they can also help you to collaborate with others efficiently, create animated documents from your data, and even build interactive charts from your text.
What’s great about Pages is that it comes with built-in help and sample formulas, so you don’t always have to create a document from scratch. Instead, you can use templates or benefit from function suggestions to improve the way you work.
With over 30 spreadsheet templates, you won’t have to create text documents from scratch unless you enjoy creating your work from scratch. Templates can help you spend less time formatting and creating the basics of your document and yet leave you with more time to focus on your text.
3. OpenOffice Writer
Among the paid word processing software, there are a couple of free gems such as OpenOffice.
OpenOffice is a free and open productivity suite that includes Writer, the perfect software for word processing.
Whether you’re trying to draft a quick letter or working on complex text documents (maybe even writing a book), the writer is a reliable and fully equipped word processing software to handle all needed tasks.
What’s great about Writer is that it is very easy to use, so you won’t have to spend hours learning the ins and outs of the software to take full advantage of it.
Instead, you will be able to focus on producing documents of all types and letting Writer help you along the way.
With built-in features such as AutoCorrect or AutoComplete, you can quickly write your documents without having to worry about making mistakes.
Along with these two features, OpenOffice Writer comes with a table of contents, references, multi-page display, and notes to help you annotate and review documents, as well as create well-structured text documents.
Lastly, exporting isn’t going to be a problem since Writer can help you export your text document into other formats such as HTML, PDF, or even .odt.
Also, keep in mind that OpenOffice provides templates you can download and use with Writer to make your drafts easier.
4. WordPerfect
WordPerfect is described as the Microsoft Office alternative. It is an all-in-one suite that focuses on productivity and efficiency when working with digital documents (especially text documents).
Inside the WordPerfect Office, you will have access to a neat and efficient word processor that can help you quickly draft new documents, create letters or brochures, write resumes, and even start writing a book.
What’s so special about WordPerfect is that it supports collaboration with about 60 file formats, so you can import and export documents from any third-party software.
With the help of Reveal Codes, WordPerfect provides seamless formatting after you import documents from any source.
And if you’re looking to “spice up” your text documents, you can do so easily with the help of built-in PDF forms into this powerful and versatile word processing software.
5. FocusWriter
If you spend a lot of time writing documents in your word processing software, and yet you find it hard to concentrate and focus on the words, FocusWriter is a great pick.
FocusWriter is a very simple word processing software that utilizes a versatile interface hidden away from the most important part of the software. This way, you can focus on the page and text, and whenever you need to use any integrated feature, all you have to do is swipe your cursor across the edges to open the hidden menu.
With integrated features such as timers, alarms, daily goals, fully customizable themes, and even the ability to use typewriter sound effects, this word processing software will help you stay on track and get things done.
Along with these features, FocusWriter has optional features such as live statistics, spell-checking, and even the ability to use FocusWriter in 20 different languages.
These features aim to improve the user experience and make word processing tasks fun and more productive since you can set your own goals.
This is a word processing software that adds improved features that aren’t very common among its competitors.
6. LibreOffice Writer
When you are a very organized person and need word processing software that will match this, LibreOffice Writer is worth trying.
LibreOffice Writer is a modern word processing software that ensures you can edit any document quickly with the help of integrated features.
Therefore, Writer is good enough for doing quick and simple edits. Still, it’s also more than enough to finish books, edit many content pages, add diagrams, and even feature indexes into your documents.
The user interface is very neat and even though there are many features they’re hidden away so you can focus on the most important aspect of word processing: the text.
7. AbiWord
When you require a very similar word processing software to Word, and yet you’re on a budget, AbiWord is a good choice.
AbiWord is compatible with the latest operating systems and interface-wise, it is very similar to Microsoft Word. Even though it’s not the “prettiest” word processing software, it has everything you might need to get the work done efficiently, and it won’t cost you a penny.
With compatibility to work with all standard text documents, AbiWord also allows you to share your documents with others easily or even merge your letters directly with your email.
Even though AbiWord might not have all features other word processing software include, AbiWord is built on the extensible plugin architecture, so you can always find plugins to include features you might be missing.
On top of that, I should mention that AbiWord is available in 30 different languages, and it is still getting updates so that you won’t be relying on an outdated version.
8. WPS Word
WPS offers a suite similar to Microsoft Office that includes three components: the Word, Excel, and Presentation.
Word is a word processing software that is highly compatible with almost all compatible document formats, and it is even compatible with all operations systems.
Creating documents from scratch with Word is very simple, and yet with standard formatting tools everyone is familiar with, editing documents is even easier.
On top of that, Word includes many extras that are rarely found in other word processing software, such as hundreds of document templates. Therefore, if you don’t feel like creating documents from scratch, basing your documents on pre-existing templates can save you a lot of time and work.
Combining media with text is highly possible, and viewing multiple documents simultaneously improves efficiency when working with multiple documents.
With collaboration tools, password protection for chosen documents, and automatic spell-checking tools, you can easily get your work done without worrying about accuracy.
9. Polaris Docs
Polaris Office is a combination of tools that includes Docs, a highly versatile version that’s very similar to a combination of Microsoft Word and Google Docs.
It’s a very versatile word processing software that allows you to work on your documents wherever you are.
Not only is it available as computer software, but it also has a dedicated web browser version and even the app version suitable for Android and iOS smartphones.
Collaboration is guaranteed with such versatility, and when it comes down to getting the work done, Polaris Docs supports all types of documents, including sheets, slides, and more.
Saved documents can be worked on in groups, meaning that more than one person can edit the document in real-time. And if you ever decide to collaborate on a document with someone, you can invite them with a link and keep the communication open with an integrated chat in the Polaris Docs.
Feature-wise, Polaris Docs is packed with the most standard features you would expect from a word processing software, and yet the main improvement is the way you can collaborate with others and work on the same document in real-time.
10. Writemonkey
If you search for a word processing document that will leave you on your own with your words and yet will hide all functionalities in a very minimalistic and simple interface, Writemonkey makes a great choice.
Writemonkey might look like a coding interface at first, but it is a stripped-down word processing software that helps you focus on your writing.
Of course, Writemonkey is also ideal for making quick edits and even reading.
This is probably one of the lightest and smallest word processing software that is very easy to install and even easier to get used to.
What’s also great is that you have full control over the interface to customize it to your needs. On top of that, you can set timed writing or even feature a visual progress bar to make your writing work feel like a breeze.
And if you ever end up missing something in Writemonkey, you can always introduce third-party upgrades to this word processing software via plugins.
11. Dropbox Paper
When you need a versatile, reliable, and quick word processing software that’s perhaps web-based, Dropbox Paper is worth considering.
Dropbox Paper is a lightweight web-based word processing software that allows simple editing and collaboration between teams.
With Dropbox Paper, you can create documents from scratch or import existing documents to easily track any edits or changes made by your team members. On top of that, with this light word processing software, you can keep everything organized, ensure feedback is properly given, and even improve your documents.
You can do almost everything in Dropbox Paper that you would do in other word processing software. However, Paper can also serve as a co-editing software.
Whether you’re trying to improve communication in your team, improve collaboration between team members, or you’re writing a book with your partner, Paper is the place to stay productive, organized, and efficient.
12. Scribus
If you require professional word processing software to handle your business/work documents or edit and prepare your book for publishing, Scribus is a great choice.
Even though it’s a bit different from standard word processing software, Scribus allows you to choose one of the designed layouts, set your typesetting, and even improve your written documents with professional-looking quality images.
With Scribus, you can also create animations that you can place directly inside your document, or you can turn your text documents into interactive PDF presentations.
On top of that, the creation of forms or questionnaires is very simple. With OpenType support, you can now edit your existing documents with advanced features such as advanced typography.
While Scribus is a great fit for simple editing and personal documents, it excels at creating magazine covers, newspaper front pages, preparing the books for publishing, and even manufacturing artwork.
It might not be the standard word processing software most people are looking for, but it will fit professional needs easily for a very fair price.
13. SoftMaker FreeOffice TextMaker
When you need a simple word processing software, SoftMaker FreeOffice is a great stepping stone that won’t cost you anything, and yet it includes almost everything you might need for personal or business use.
In the FreeOffice, you will get TextMaker included. TextMaker is a small but efficient word processing software that allows you to create all types of documents and edit existing documents that you can easily import.
What’s unique about TextMaker is that it doesn’t only focus on written documents. Instead, it also offers great features for processing words on graphics. Therefore, you can use TextMaker to create great text for your images, logos, or even banners.
With many different fonts, styles, and even wrapping options, TextMaker will make all your graphics look professional and attractive yet easy to read.
Since TextMaker can import almost all types of documents, you can also export your work in the most standard formats, such as Word DOC and DOCX. However, what’s also great about TextMaker is that it allows you to create PDF files from your documents.
You can even create an EPUB eBook with the help of TextMaker, which is a great feature, considering that SoftMaker provides the TextMaker for free.
14. Zoho Docs Writer
Zoho Docs Writer is a perfect example of an online word processing software that is easy to use and easy to access. Yet, in return, you will get very reliable and advanced features you can use on any of your documents.
The writer allows you to focus on your words in a distraction-free interface, yet you can work with others in an effortless document sharing.
With the most standard features, you would expect a word processing software packed in the interface you can access via the web browser and even get unlimited versions of your document.
These versions help you compare differences and find differences after collaboration with others.
One of the most advanced yet convenient features is publishing your documents directly (if you are a content creator).
If not, Zoho Docs Writer can help you electronically sign documents and even fill out PDF forms (or edit PDFs) without a problem.
15. Google Docs
Suppose you are not a fan of standalone word processing documents or don’t consider your computer reliable enough for your work. In that case, Google Docs is one of the most reliable web-based word processing software than most others in this space that you can get your hands on.
Along with the Sheets, Slides, and Forms, Docs allows you to not only create documents from scratch or import and edit existing documents, but it also allows you to store all your documents in the cloud for free.
You can easily access your documents from any device, as long as you’re signed in to your Google account, and yet you will easily get used to the functionality and features of the Docs.
On top of that, Docs is very flexible, so you can export them in many different formats just the way you can import documents. However, one thing to keep in mind is that you will need an internet connection at all times to access your documents or work on them.
Conclusion
Even though Microsoft Word is one of the most known word processing software globally, there is much other software that is as good and worth giving it a try.
One couldn’t do without quality word processing software, but you even get the chance to find the one that will fit your needs the most with so many choices.
Even though each one of these is similar, there are differences in the interface, functionality, and even features that the software provides.
With that being said, you can easily choose according to your needs and purpose, which I highly recommend!
Tom loves to write on technology, e-commerce & internet marketing.
Tom has been a full-time internet marketer for two decades now, earning millions of dollars while living life on his own terms. Along the way, he’s also coached thousands of other people to success.
A Word processor is a computer program that provides for input, editing, formatting, and output of text. It includes some additional features such as creating, editing, saving, and printing documents.
Following is a handpicked list of Top Word Processor, with their popular features and website links. The list contains both open source (free) and commercial (paid) software.
Best Free Word Processor Software: Top Picks
| Name | Platform | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Word | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS | Learn More |
| Google Doc | Web, iOS, and Android, and Mac | Learn More |
| Grammarly | Web and browser extension | Learn More |
| Prowritingaid | Windows, Mac, and Web | Learn More |
| Scrivener | Windows, iOS, and Mac | Learn More |
#1) Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is a writing app that helps you to transform documents into web pages. It offers a real-time translation facility with just one tap. This program enables you to read and edit documents attached to the email.
Features:
- It provides templates for resumes and forms.
- You can read documents, PDF, letters, and scripts on your mobile device.
- It enables you to save a document as a PDF file.
- Share your file with others with a few taps.
- Support editing with rich formatting.
- Manage permission for documents
- You can comment in the documents.
- Supported platform: Android, Mac, iOS, and Windows.
Visit Ms Word >>
#2) Google Doc
Google Doc is an online application that helps you to format text and paragraphs. It contains numerous fonts and images. This word processing software tool offers templates for writing documents. You can use the application to create and make changes in files anywhere at any time.
Features:
- You can access it from a Phone, tablet, or computer.
- You can make changes in the document in real-time.
- It offers chat and comment in the file.
- Convert Google Doc file to Word file or vice versa.
- You can search quotes, text, and images in the Google Doc Android app.
- Supported platforms: Web, iOS, and Android, and Mac.
Link: http://docs.google.com/
#3) Grammarly
Grammarly is a widely used writing enhancement tool. It offers numerous writing styles, suggestions for grammar, vocabulary, and syntax. You can use this tool via the website, as a browser extension, or as an app that you download to your computer.
Features:
- It helps enhance your writing skills by highlighting grammatical mistakes and areas of improvement.
- It works with every type of website with ease.
- Detect contextual mistakes.
- Genre-specific suggestion abilities.
- It offers a useful knowledge base for grammar learning.
- Helps writer to boost their writing style.
- Make text corrections across different websites and platforms.
- Supported platforms: Web and browser extension.
Visit Grammarly >>
#4) Prowritingaid
Prowritingaid is a tool that offers world-class grammar and style checking facility. It helps you to edit documents faster. This software includes more than 1000s of style to improve your writing.
Feature:
- It enables you to fix the writing style issue.
- Prowritingaid shows spelling and grammar mistakes.
- It has word explorer facilities to find the right word.
- This tool offers a consistent report to reduce mistakes.
- Supported Platform: Mac, Web, and Windows.
Visit Prowritingaid >>
#5) Scrivener
Scrivener is an ideal app design for writers. It provides a management system for documents and metadata. This app helps you to organize and research the document for easy access.
Features:
- It highlights the phrases that you need to work.
- You can add comments and annotations.
- This software allows you to indent block quota.
- Make heading large and bold.
- You can import plain text files, and Word documents, PDF documents, and more.
- Supported Platform: Windows, iOS, and Mac.
Visit Scrivener >>
#6) Calmlywriter
Calmlywriter is free writing software. The design of this program is minimal. This online application is design to help you to focus on your writing skills. It has a “focus mode” option that can highlight the paragraph you are writing.
Features:
- You can get the support of full-screen mode.
- It is simple to use.
- You can on or off typewriter sound.
- Supports syntax to format headers, bold, italics, as well as bullets.
- It allows you to use keyboard shortcuts.
- Spell check via a browser.
- It provides a word counter.
- You can export to PDF file.
- Supported platforms: Web and browser extension.
Link: https://www.calmlywriter.com/online/
#7) Ginger software
Ginger is one of the oldest writing enhancement tool. It is one of the best free word processor that will help you to correct text as you type, picking up many common grammatical errors like punctuation, sentence structuring, subject-verb agreement, writing style, and wording. Apart from the usual grammar, the checker offers a set of unique little features in it like text reader, translator, trainer, etc.
Features:
- Ginger software is well efficient Grammarly checker tool to detect misspelled words.
- It helps you correct all errors at once and allows you to undo all changes with just one click.
- This program allows you to do the switching between US and UK English languages.
- Ginger punctuation checker helps you to check punctuation mistakes in your content.
- You can add your words to the personal dictionary to consider them as errors in the future.
- Identify document errors and correct them.
- Spelling and grammar check.
- Help improve users’ English writing skills.
- Supported platform: Windows, iOS, Mac, and browser extension.
Link: https://www.gingersoftware.com/
#8) JotterPad – Writer, Screenplay, Novel
JotterPad is an Android application that is designed especially for writers. It has a plain text editor helping you to write books, poems, novels, essays, etc. The tool enables you to focus on converting your thoughts into a plain text file.
Features:
- You can quickly search for phrases.
- It supports Markdown (Text to HTML conversion tool).
- It allows you to count words.
- This tool helps you to control the version of the document.
- Write or edit the text in the cloud.
- Print or publish your work to PDF.
- It has a built-in dictionary to search for words.
- Supported platform: Android.
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jotterpad.x&hl=en_IN
#9) Evernote Web
Evernote is an application designed for writing notes. This free word processing software helps you capture and prioritize your ideas, to-do lists, and projects across more than one computing device.
Features:
- You can move or remove the section of the page.
- It allows you to change the design of the paper.
- Erase unwanted strokes or marks.
- Enables you to highlight the color of the text.
- You can copy, cut, or paste selected shapes or strokes.
- Supported platform: Windows, iOS, Android, and Mac.
Link: https://help.evernote.com/hc/en-us/articles/209122047-Start-writing
#10) Readable
Readable is a word processor that helps you to test the readability, grammar, and spelling of your text. It supports integration with API into your content management software. You can paste your text into this tool, and it will give you instant analysis. It also recommends improvement.
Features:
- It can analyze the quality of the text.
- This free word processor tool can check the density of the keyword.
- The application gives readability alerts.
- It provides team management facility.
- Readable allows you to share text, file scores, and websites.
- Supported platform: Web.
Link: https://readable.com/
#11) Dragon Naturally Speaking
Dragon Naturally Speaking is software for speech recognition. This application allows you to talk, and your words will appear on the screen. It helps you to make documents without using a keyboard.
Features:
- It allows you to control your PC by voice with accuracy and speed.
- This tool is faster than typing text with a keyboard.
- It can be used by students, enterprise users, and professionals.
- Supported platform: Windows, Android, and iOS.
Link: https://www.nuance.com/dragon.html
#12) Scribus
Scribus is a free and open-source desktop publishing software. It is specially designed for typesetting, layout, and presentation of files. This app can also create PDFs and forms.
Features:
- It offers a user-friendly interface.
- Support publishing features like color management and PDF creation.
- You can draw vector drawings.
- This application Supports documentation creation tools like LaText, Lilypond, etc.
- You can import or export a huge number of files to Scribus.
- Supported Platform: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Solaris, PC-BSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, and Haiku.
Link: https://www.scribus.net/
#13) Draft
A draft is a tool that helps you to write a draft simply and easily. It is one of the best word processing programs that enables you to control the version of the documents. This software allows you to import documents from a wide range of cloud services.
Feature:
- Email your doc into the draft.
- It can assist you with transcription.
- Support Markdown.
- You can share your document with others.
- It allows you to comment on your writing.
- Supported platform: Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Link: https://draftin.com/
#14) iA Writer: The Markdown Writing App
iA writer creates a clean and easy to use writing environment. It helps you to edit your text file in any app you like. This app has a focus mode that allows you to stay in the flow.
Feature:
- It can highlight the syntax.
- This tool can search the document.
- Support customization of the template.
- It supports automatic table alignment.
- The app offers two modes light and dark mode.
- It helps you to write a phrase and a sentence.
- Supported platform: Mac, Android, iOS, and Windows.
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.ia.iawriter.x
#15) Writer Plus (Write On the Go)
Writer Plus (Write On the Go) is a writer app. This tool helps you to write notes, poems, novels, and essays on tablets or phones. It supports many languages, including English, Russian, German, Chinese, and French.
Feature:
- It enables you to open, make changes, and save a text file.
- This tool provides keyboard shortcuts.
- Provide support of Markdown format
- It utilizes a limited system resource.
- Writer Plus enables you to use H3, H3, H4, italic & bold, list, numbered list, and more.
- Supported platform: iOS, Android, Mac, OS X, and Windows.
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.easy4u.writer
#16) iA Writer
iA Writer is a text editor that gives users a clean, simple, and distraction-free writing experience. This tool can be used devices like smartphones, tablets, and more.
Feature:
- Supports keyboard shortcuts.
- It can highlight the current sentence and word you are typing.
- You can connect to cloud services like Google Drive and Dropbox.
- It has easy to use writing interface.
- Supported platform: Mac and Windows.
Link: https://ia.net/writer
#17) Writing Challenge
Writing challenge is a tool that provides an easy way to improve writing. You can write stories step by step. It helps you speed up your writing by adjusting the timer.
Feature:
- This tool helps you to generate creative ideas.
- It provides many combinations to start your stories.
- This software offers an option to suggest in your story.
- Supported platform: Android, Mac, and iOS.
Link: https://www.writingchallengeapp.com/
#18) Novelist – Write your novels
Novelist is the app that can be used to write novels. It is free software that allows you to backup and restore documents with Google Drive. This software offers a book preview facility. The tool has a rich text editor that saves your document automatically.
Feature:
- Write anything using any browser.
- It has templates that help you to write a book.
- Book compilation in EPUB (e-book file format), HTML format.
- You can insert comments in your book.
- It allows you to see and restore previous versions of the text.
- This application offers a comfortable night mode that enables you to focus on writing.
- Supported platform: Android.
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=it.returntrue.novelist
#19) Pure Writer
Pure Writer is a simple text software that is designed to have a good user experience. This tool helps you to recover accidentally removed documents. It saves the article if the content is changed.
Feature:
- Check if the article is saved in the database or not.
- Offers history records and undo and redo features.
- Integrate this tool with WebDAV (Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning).
- It this software fails to autosave the file, you won’t be able to exit the editor without saving it.
- Supported platform: Mac, Windows, and Android.
Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.drakeet.purewriter&hl=en_IN
#20) Write Room
Write Room is an application that helps you to write without distraction. This tool offers a full-screen writing mode. It helps you to focus on your writing.
Feature:
- You can handle large document information quickly.
- It offers live reading time and word count.
- You can select sentences, words, and paragraphs using a command.
- It automatically log activity to a spreadsheet.
- The application provides themes to save switch and save settings.
- This tool enables you to choose paper textures, background images, and typing sounds.
- Supported platform: Mac and iOS.
Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/writeroom
#21) Ulysses (for Mac)
Ulysses is a tool that helps you to manage you’re your projects. It enables you to work anywhere, anytime. This tool helps you to transform the text into a PDF file. You can export text file HTML for use on the web.
Feature:
- This software offers a clean and distraction-free environment.
- It helps you to enhance plaintext.
- Ulysses has a hierarchic group that enables you to organize your writing project.
- Collaboration, for example, with your colleague using Dropbox.
- Export text file to Markdown, HTML, or rich text.
- Publish stories to Medium and WordPress.
- Provides live preview to see how your output will look like.
- It has numerous styles and themes.
- Supported platform: Mac and iOS.
Link: https://ulysses.app/
#22) Byword
Byword is a writing app that has tools for writing Markdown and rich text formatting files. It has a word checker and counter feature. This program supports VoiceOver API. You can use this software to capture ideas and notes that are available in all the devices.
Features:
- It helps you to make writing easier.
- This tool can Sync text files across all the devices, including Mac, iPhone, iPad.
- You can export texts file to HTML and PDF documents.
- Publish to Blogger, Medium, Evernote, Tumblr, WordPress, and many more.
- Supported platform:Mac and iOS.
Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/byword/id420212497
#23) Writer
Writer is a word processor that enables you to create documents for free. This tool offers readability, contextual grammar, and style suggestions. It allows you to integrate with Blogger pages or WordPress.
Features:
- Allows you to collaborate with team in real time.
- It helps you to review and document approval easily.
- You can save the document as PDF and MS Word.
- This tool helps you to manage your workflow.
- Enables you to merge documents together.
Link: https://www.zoho.com/writer/
FAQ:
❓ What are Word Processor Software?
Word Process Software are applications that help you to write and manage stories, emails, ideas, social media posts, articles, and more.
💻 Which are the Best Word Processor Software?
🏅 Why use Word Processor Software?
Word Process Software are used because:
- They help you to make writing easier.
- It offers numerous writing styles, suggestions for grammar, vocabulary, syntax.
- Applications identify document errors and correct them.
⚡ What are the general features of Word Processor Software?
Here are the best features of Word Process Software:
- Word Processor Software solves grammatical errors like punctuation, sentence structuring, subject-verb agreement, writing style, and wording.
- Export text file to Markdown, HTML, or rich text.
- It helps you to make writing easier.
Word Processing
Andrew Prestage, in Encyclopedia of Information Systems, 2003
I. An Introduction to Word Processing
Word processing is the act of using a computer to transform written, verbal, or recorded information into typewritten or printed form. This chapter will discuss the history of word processing, identify several popular word processing applications, and define the capabilities of word processors.
Of all the computer applications in use, word processing is by far the most common. The ability to perform word processing requires a computer and a special type of computer software called a word processor. A word processor is a program designed to assist with the production of a wide variety of documents, including letters, memoranda, and manuals, rapidly and at relatively low cost. A typical word processor enables the user to create documents, edit them using the keyboard and mouse, store them for later retrieval, and print them to a printer. Common word processing applications include Microsoft Notepad, Microsoft Word, and Corel WordPerfect.
Word processing technology allows human beings to freely and efficiently share ideas, thoughts, feelings, sentiments, facts, and other information in written form. Throughout history, the written word has provided mankind with the ability to transform thoughts into printed words for distribution to hundreds, thousands, or possibly millions of readers around the world. The power of the written word to transcend verbal communications is best exemplified by the ability of writers to share information and express ideas with far larger audiences and the permanency of the written word.
The increasingly large collective body of knowledge is one outcome of the permanency of the written word, including both historical and current works. Powered by decreasing prices, increasing sophistication, and widespread availability of technology, the word processing revolution changed the landscape of communications by giving people hitherto unavailable power to make or break reputations, to win or lose elections, and to inspire or mislead through the printed word.
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Computers and Effective Security Management1
Charles A. Sennewald, Curtis Baillie, in Effective Security Management (Sixth Edition), 2016
Word Processing
Word processing software can easily create, edit, store, and print text documents such as letters, memoranda, forms, employee performance evaluations (such as those in Appendix A), proposals, reports, security surveys (such as those in Appendix B), general security checklists, security manuals, books, articles, press releases, and speeches. A professional-looking document can be easily created and readily updated when necessary.
The length of created documents is limited only by the storage capabilities of the computer, which are enormous. Also, if multiple copies of a working document exist, changes to it should be promptly communicated to all persons who use the document. Specialized software, using network features, can be programmed to automatically route changes to those who need to know about updates.
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Globalization
Jennifer DeCamp, in Encyclopedia of Information Systems, 2003
II.D.2.c. Rendering Systems
Special word processing software is usually required to correctly display languages that are substantially different from English, for example:
- 1.
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Connecting characters, as in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Hindi, and Hebrew
- 2.
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Different text direction, as in the right-to-left capability required in Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and Hindi, or the right-to-left and top-to-bottom capability in formal Chinese
- 3.
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Multiple accents or diacritics, such as in Vietnamese or in fully vowelled Arabic
- 4.
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Nonlinear text entry, as in Hindi, where a vowel may be typed after the consonant but appears before the consonant.
Alternatives to providing software with appropriate character rendering systems include providing graphic files or elaborate formatting (e.g., backwards typing of Arabic and/or typing of Arabic with hard line breaks). However, graphic files are cumbersome to download and use, are space consuming, and cannot be electronically searched except by metadata. The second option of elaborate formatting often does not look as culturally appropriate as properly rendered text, and usually loses its special formatting when text is added or is upgraded to a new system. It is also difficult and time consuming to produce. Note that Microsoft Word 2000 and Office XP support the above rendering systems; Java 1.4 supports the above rendering systems except for vertical text.
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Text Entry When Movement is Impaired
Shari Trewin, John Arnott, in Text Entry Systems, 2007
15.3.2 Abbreviation Expansion
Popular word processing programs often include abbreviation expansion capabilities. Abbreviations for commonly used text can be defined, allowing a long sequence such as an address to be entered with just a few keystrokes. With a little investment of setup time, those who are able to remember the abbreviations they have defined can find this a useful technique. Abbreviation expansion schemes have also been developed specifically for people with disabilities (Moulton et al., 1999; Vanderheiden, 1984).
Automatic abbreviation expansion at phrase/sentence level has also been investigated: the Compansion (Demasco & McCoy, 1992; McCoy et al., 1998) system was designed to process and expand spontaneous language constructions, using Natural Language Processing to convert groups of uninflected content words automatically into full phrases or sentences. For example, the output sentence “John breaks the window with the hammer” might derive from the user input text “John break window hammer” using such an approach.
With the rise of text messaging on mobile devices such as mobile (cell) phones, abbreviations are increasingly commonplace in text communications. Automatic expansion of many abbreviations may not be necessary, however, depending on the context in which the text is being used. Frequent users of text messaging can learn to recognize a large number of abbreviations without assistance.
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Case Studies
Brett Shavers, in Placing the Suspect Behind the Keyboard, 2013
Altered evidence and spoliation
Electronic evidence in the form of word processing documents which were submitted by a party in litigation is alleged to have been altered. Altered electronic evidence has become a common claim with the ability to determine the changes becoming more difficult. How do you know if an email has been altered? What about a text document?
Case in Point
Odom v Microsoft and Best Buy, 2006
The Odom v Microsoft and Best Buy litigation primarily focused on Internet access offered to customers in which the customers were automatically billed for Internet service without their consent. One of the most surprising aspects of this case involved the altering of electronic evidence by an attorney for Best Buy. The attorney, Timothy Block, admitted to altering documents prior to producing the documents in discovery to benefit Best Buy.
Investigative Tips: All evidence needs to be validated for authenticity. The weight given in legal hearings depends upon the veracity of the evidence. Many electronic files can be quickly validated through hash comparisons. An example seen in Figure 11.4 shows two files with different file names, yet their hash values are identical. If one file is known to be valid, perhaps an original evidence file, any file matching the hash values would also be a valid and unaltered copy of the original file.
Figure 11.4. Two files with different file names, but having the same hash value, indicating the contents of the files are identical.
Alternatively, Figure 11.5 shows two files with the same file name but having different hash values. If there were a claim that both of these files are the same original files, it would be apparent that one of the files has been modified.
Figure 11.5. Two files with the same file names, but having different hash values, indicating the contents are not identical.
Finding the discrepancies or modifications of an electronic file can only be accomplished if there is a comparison to be made with the original file. Using Figure 11.5 as an example, given that the file having the MD5 hash value of d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e is the original, and where the second file is the alleged altered file, a visual inspection of both files should be able to determine the modifications. However, when only file exists, proving the file to be unaltered is more than problematic, it is virtually impossible.
In this situation of having a single file to verify as original and unaltered evidence, an analysis would only be able to show when the file was modified over time, but the actual modifications won’t be known. Even if the document has “track changed” enabled, which logs changes to a document, that would only capture changes that were tracked, as there may be more untracked and unknown changes.
As a side note to hash values, in Figure 11.5, the hash values are completely different, even though the only difference between the two sample files is a single period added to the text. Any modification, no matter how minor, results in a drastic different hash value.
The importance in validating files in relation to the identification of a suspect that may have altered a file is that the embedded metadata will be a key point of focus and avenue for case leads. As a file is created, copied, modified, and otherwise touched, the file and system metadata will generally be updated.
Having the dates and times of these updates should give rise to you that the updates occurred on some computer system. This may be on one or more computers even if the file existed on a flash drive. At some point, the flash drive was connected to a computer system, where evidence on a system may show link files to the file. Each of these instances of access to the file is an opportunity to create a list of possible suspects having access to those systems in use at each updated metadata fields.
In the Microsoft Windows operating systems, Volume Shadow Copies may provide an examiner with a string of previous versions of a document, in which the modifications between each version can be determined. Although not every change may have been incrementally saved by the Volume Shadow Service, such as if the file was saved to a flash drive, any previous versions that can be found will allow to find some of the modifications made.
Where a single file will determine the outcome of an investigation or have a dramatic effect on the case, the importance of ‘getting it right’ cannot be overstated. Such would be the case of a single file, modified by someone in a business office, where many persons had common access to the evidence file before it was known to be evidence. Finding the suspect that altered the evidence file may be simple if you were at the location close to the time of occurrence. Interviews of the employees would be easier as most would remember their whereabouts in the office within the last few days. Some may be able to tell you exactly where other employees were in the office, even point the suspect out directly.
But what if you are called in a year later? How about 2 or more years later? What would be the odds employees remembering their whereabouts on a Monday in July 2 years earlier? To identify a suspect at this point requires more than a forensic analysis of a computer. It will probably require an investigation into work schedules, lunch schedules, backup tapes, phone call logs, and anything else to place everyone somewhere during the time of the file being altered.
Potentially you may even need to examine the hard drive of a copy machine and maybe place a person at the copy machine based on what was copied at the time the evidence file was being modified. When a company’s livelihood is at stake or a person’s career is at risk, leave no stone unturned. If you can’t place a suspect at the scene, you might be able to place everyone else at a location, and those you can’t place, just made your list of possible suspects.
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When, How, and Why Do We Trust Technology Too Much?
Patricia L. Hardré, in Emotions, Technology, and Behaviors, 2016
Trusting Spelling and Grammar Checkers
We often see evidence that users of word processing systems trust absolutely in spelling and grammar checkers. From errors in business letters and on resumes to uncorrected word usage in academic papers, this nonstrategy emerges as epidemic. It underscores a pattern of implicit trust that if a word is not flagged as incorrect in a word processing system, then it must be not only spelled correctly but also used correctly. The overarching error is trusting the digital checking system too much, while the underlying functional problem is that such software identifies gross errors (such as nonwords) but cannot discriminate finer nuances of language requiring judgment (like real words used incorrectly). Users from average citizens to business executives have become absolutely comfortable with depending on embedded spelling and grammar checkers that are supposed to autofind, trusting the technology so much that they often do not even proofread. Like overtrust of security monitoring, these personal examples are instances of reduced vigilance due to their implicit belief that the technology is functionally flawless, that if the technology has not found an error, then an error must not exist.
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Establishing a C&A Program
Laura Taylor, Matthew Shepherd Technical Editor, in FISMA Certification and Accreditation Handbook, 2007
Template Development
Certification Packages consist of a set of documents that all go together and complement one another. A Certification Package is voluminous, and without standardization, it takes an inordinate amount of time to evaluate it to make sure all the right information is included. Therefore, agencies should have templates for all the documents that they require in their Certification Packages. Agencies without templates should work on creating them. If an agency does not have the resources in-house to develop these templates, they should consider outsourcing this initiative to outside consultants.
A template should be developed using the word processing application that is the standard within the agency. All of the relevant sections that the evaluation team will be looking for within each document should be included. Text that will remain constant for a particular document type also should be included. An efficient and effective C&A program will have templates for the following types of C&A documents:
- ▪
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Categorization and Certification Level Recommendation
- ▪
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Hardware and Software Inventory
- ▪
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Self-Assessment
- ▪
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Security Awareness and Training Plan
- ▪
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End-User Rules of Behavior
- ▪
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Incident Response Plan
- ▪
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Security Test and Evaluation Plan
- ▪
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Privacy Impact Assessment
- ▪
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Business Risk Assessment
- ▪
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Business Impact Assessment
- ▪
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Contingency Plan
- ▪
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Configuration Management Plan
- ▪
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System Risk Assessment
- ▪
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System Security Plan
- ▪
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Security Assessment Report
The later chapters in this book will help you understand what should be included in each of these types of documents. Some agencies may possibly require other types of documents as required by their information security program and policies.
Templates should include guidelines for what type of content should be included, and also should have built-in formatting. The templates should be as complete as possible, and any text that should remain consistent and exactly the same in like document types should be included. Though it may seem redundant to have the exact same verbatim text at the beginning of, say, each Business Risk Assessment from a particular agency, each document needs to be able to stand alone and make sense if it is pulled out of the Certification Package for review. Having similar wording in like documents also shows that the packages were developed consistently using the same methodology and criteria.
With established templates in hand, it makes it much easier for the C&A review team to understand what it is that they need to document. Even expert C&A consultants need and appreciate document templates. Finding the right information to include the C&A documents can by itself by extremely difficult without first having to figure out what it is that you are supposed to find—which is why the templates are so very important. It’s often the case that a large complex application is distributed and managed throughout multiple departments or divisions and it can take a long time to figure out not just what questions to ask, but who the right people are who will know the answers.
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Speech Recognition
John-Paul Hosom, in Encyclopedia of Information Systems, 2003
I.B. Capabilities and Limitations of Automatic Speech Recognition
ASR is currently used for dictation into word processing software, or in a “command-and-control” framework in which the computer recognizes and acts on certain key words. Dictation systems are available for general use, as well as for specialized fields such as medicine and law. General dictation systems now cost under $100 and have speaker-dependent word-recognition accuracy from 93% to as high as 98%. Command-and-control systems are more often used over the telephone for automatically dialing telephone numbers or for requesting specific services before (or without) speaking to a human operator. Telephone companies use ASR to allow customers to automatically place calls even from a rotary telephone, and airlines now utilize telephone-based ASR systems to help passengers locate and reclaim lost luggage. Research is currently being conducted on systems that allow the user to interact naturally with an ASR system for goals such as making airline or hotel reservations.
Despite these successes, the performance of ASR is often about an order of magnitude worse than human-level performance, even with superior hardware and long processing delays. For example, recognition of the digits “zero” through “nine” over the telephone has word-level accuracy of about 98% to 99% using ASR, but nearly perfect recognition by humans. Transcription of radio broadcasts by world-class ASR systems has accuracy of less than 87%. This relatively low accuracy of current ASR systems has limited its use; it is not yet possible to reliably and consistently recognize and act on a wide variety of commands from different users.
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Prototyping
Rex Hartson, Pardha Pyla, in The UX Book (Second Edition), 2019
20.7 Software Tools for Making Wireframes
Wireframes can be sketched using any drawing or word processing software package that supports creating and manipulating shapes. While many applications suffice for simple wireframing, we recommend tools designed specifically for this purpose. We use Sketch, a drawing app, to do all the drawing. Craft is a plug-in to Sketch that connects it to InVision, allowing you to export Sketch screen designs to InVision to incorporate hotspots as working links.
In the “Build mode” of InVision, you work on one screen at a time, adding rectangular overlays that are the hotspots. For each hotspot, you specify what other screen you go to when someone clicks on that hotspot in “Preview mode.” You get a nice bonus using InVision: In the “operate” mode, you, or the user, can click anywhere in an open space in the prototype and it highlights all the available links. These tools are available only on Mac computers, but similar tools are available under Windows.
Beyond this discussion, it’s not wise to try to cover software tools for making prototypes in this kind of textbook. The field is changing fast and whatever we could say here would be out of date by the time you read this. Plus, it wouldn’t be fair to the numerous other perfectly good tools that didn’t get cited. To get the latest on software tools for prototyping, it’s better to ask an experienced UX professional or to do your research online.
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Design Production
Rex Hartson, Partha S. Pyla, in The UX Book, 2012
9.5.3 How to Build Wireframes?
Wireframes can be built using any drawing or word processing software package that supports creating and manipulating shapes, such as iWork Pages, Keynote, Microsoft PowerPoint, or Word. While such applications suffice for simple wireframing, we recommend tools designed specifically for this purpose, such as OmniGraffle (for Mac), Microsoft Visio (for PC), and Adobe InDesign.
Many tools and templates for making wireframes are used in combination—truly an invent-as-you-go approach serving the specific needs of prototyping. For example, some tools are available to combine the generic-looking placeholders in wireframes with more detailed mockups of some screens or parts of screens. In essence they allow you to add color, graphics, and real fonts, as well as representations of real content, to the wireframe scaffolding structure.
In early stages of design, during ideation and sketching, you started with thinking about the high-level conceptual design. It makes sense to start with that here, too, first by wireframing the design concept and then by going top down to address major parts of the concept. Identify the interaction conceptual design using boxes with labels, as shown in Figure 9-4.
Take each box and start fleshing out the design details. What are the different kinds of interaction needed to support each part of the design, and what kinds of widgets work best in each case? What are the best ways to lay them out? Think about relationships among the widgets and any data that need to go with them. Leverage design patterns, metaphors, and other ideas and concepts from the work domain ontology. Do not spend too much time with exact locations of these widgets or on their alignment yet. Such refinement will come in later iterations after all the key elements of the design are represented.
As you flesh out all the major areas in the design, be mindful of the information architecture on the screen. Make sure the wireframes convey that inherent information architecture. For example, do elements on the screen follow a logical information hierarchy? Are related elements on the screen positioned in such a way that those relationships are evident? Are content areas indented appropriately? Are margins and indents communicating the hierarchy of the content in the screen?
Next it is time to think about sequencing. If you are representing a workflow, start with the “wake-up” state for that workflow. Then make a wireframe representing the next state, for example, to show the result of a user action such as clicking on a button. In Figure 9-6 we showed what happens when a user clicks on the “Related information” expander widget. In Figure 9-7 we showed what happens if the user clicks on the “One-up” view switcher button.
Once you create the key screens to depict the workflow, it is time to review and refine each screen. Start by specifying all the options that go on the screen (even those not related to this workflow). For example, if you have a toolbar, what are all the options that go into that toolbar? What are all the buttons, view switchers, window controllers (e.g., scrollbars), and so on that need to go on the screen? At this time you are looking at scalability of your design. Is the design pattern and layout still working after you add all the widgets that need to go on this screen?
Think of cases when the windows or other container elements such as navigation bars in the design are resized or when different data elements that need to be supported are larger than shown in the wireframe. For example, in Figures 9-5 and 9-6, what must happen if the number of photo collections is greater than what fits in the default size of that container? Should the entire page scroll or should new scrollbars appear on the left-hand navigation bar alone? How about situations where the number of people identified in a collection are large? Should we show the first few (perhaps ones with most number of associated photos) with a “more” option, should we use an independent scrollbar for that pane, or should we scroll the entire page? You may want to make wireframes for such edge cases; remember they are less expensive and easier to do using boxes and lines than in code.
As you iterate your wireframes, refine them further, increasing the fidelity of the deck. Think about proportions, alignments, spacing, and so on for all the widgets. Refine the wording and language aspects of the design. Get the wireframe as close to the envisioned design as possible within the constraints of using boxes and lines.
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Word Processing
Topic: Word Processing
Class: SSS Two
Definition of Terms
Word Processing: Word processing means using the computer to create, edit, and print document.
Word processor: A word processor is an electronic device or computer software application, which performs the task of composition, editing, formatting, and printing of documents.
Text Document: Text document is something written, printed, or online document that presents data in the form of an articles, letter, memorandum, report, etc.
Examples of Word Processors
There are many word processing software packages available today, such as WordStar, MS-word, Corel WordPerfect, WordPad, Notepad, WPS writer, etc
Application Areas of Word processing Software
i. Offices
ii. Publishing
iii. Journalism
iv. Education
v. Articles
Steps Involved in Loading Microsoft Word
There are two ways of loading Microsoft word:
a. If the icon of the package is on desktop, double click on it for it to open
b. If the icon is not on the desktop, follow the step below:
i. Click the Start Button
ii. Click on all program
iii. Select and click Microsoft office
iv. Select and click Microsoft Word
MS-Word Processing Environment
The word window is made up of many components that are displayed onscreen at the start of the program such as:
a. Title bar: The title bar is the top part of the window displaying MS Word. It displays the name of the active document.
b. Menu bar: The menu bar contains commands for word operation. E.g Home, Insert, view, insert, page layout, etc
c. Status bar: bottom of the window it displays the status of the document
d. Toolbar: Toolbar serves as short cuts for common commands such as save, print, new, open, undo, etc.
e. Work space: it is the area where actual word processing is done.
f. Formatting toolbar: This toolbar contains shortcut to the commands used for formatting text. You can change your word or line paragraph to bold, italic or underline,
Facilities Available in a Word Processor
a. Type document: the Keyboard is used to type a document. You type a document by pressing the relevant keys on the keyboard in order to arrive at the desired word.
b. Edit document: This is the ability to change text by adding, deleting and rearranging letters, words, sentences and paragraph.
c. Store document: Word processor gives the opportunity of accessing a previously saved file or document either on the computer or on external storage facility.
d. Move, copy and paste: A word, line or text, paragraph, page or diagram can be moved from one document to another. It could be also be within a document that for one line to the other. It can also be from one application packages to the other, e.g., from CorelDraw to Microsoft Word.
Features of a Word Processor
Word processor varies considerably, but all word processors support the following basic features:
Insert text: Allows you to insert text anywhere in the document
Delete text: Allows you to erase characters, words, lines, or passages.
Cut and paste: Allows you to remove a section of text from one place in a document and insert it somewhere else
Copy: Allows you to duplicate a section of text
Page size and Margins: allows you to define various page size and margins.
Search and replace: Allows you to search for a particular word or phrase and also replace one group of characters with another everywhere that first group appears.
Word wrap: The word processor automatically moves to the next line when you have filled one line with text.
Headers, footers, and page numbering: Allows you to specify customized headers and footers the word process will display at the top and bottom of every page
Font Specification: Allows you to change font attributes within a document.
Spell Checker: A utility that allows you to check the spelling of words. It will highlight any word that it does not recognize
Thesaurus: Allows you to search for synonyms without leaving the word processor
WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get): With WYSIWYG, a document appears the display screen exactly as it will look when printed. ETC
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A word processor program is a computer program that provides word processing functions. Originally a separate type of application to desktop publishing, the two program types now overlap, with many word processors now including what were once desktop publishing functions.
History[edit]
The first known electronic word processor program was Electric Pencil, released in 1976, as a tool for programmers to write documentation and manuals for their code. Electric pencil featured basic formatting and navigation, and supported external devices such as cassette recorders and printers. Electric Pencil II was released shortly after, targeting the CP/M operating system. Several other word processing programs were released shortly after, including EasyWriter and WordStar.[1]
A screenshot of WordStar 3.0 in use
WordStar was created in four months by Seymour Rubinstein after founding MicroPro International in 1978. WordStar is commonly attributed as the first WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor, as the WordStar editor replicated the printed output. Inspired by the success of WordStar, many competitors began to release their offerings, including WordPerfect in 1979, MultiMate in 1982, and Microsoft Word in 1983.[1][2]
List of word processors[edit]
Notable programs include:
- Electric Pencil (1976)
- WordStar (1978)
- WordPerfect (1979)
- EasyWriter (1979)
- IBM DisplayWrite (1981)
- MultiMate (1982)
- Volkswriter (1982)
- Microsoft Word (1983)
- Lotus Manuscript (1986)
- TextMaker (1987)
- Sprint (word processor) (1987)
- IBM Lotus Word Pro (1988)
- InPage (1994)
- WordPad (1995)
- TextEdit (1996)
- Ability Write (1996)
- KWord (1998)
- AbiWord (1998)
- Adobe InCopy (1999)
- Atlantis Word Processor (2000)
- Jarte (2001)
- Pages (2005)
- JWPce (2005)
- Google Docs (2006)
- Scrivener (software) (2007)
- WordGrinder (2007)
- PolyEdit (2010)
- LibreOffice Writer (2011)
- Apache OpenOffice Writer (2012)
- Calligra Words (2012)
A word processing function is an essential part of any office suite, and may be provided as a stand-alone program (for example Word in Microsoft Office) or as a function of a more general program (for example LibreOffice Writer in LibreOffice) or other (for example
TextMaker in SoftMaker). With the emergence of the internet, different cloud-based word processor programs began to emerge, which allow people to work faster and more efficiently.
See also[edit]
- Word processor
- Word processor (electronic device)
References[edit]
- ^ a b Bergin, Thomas J. (October 2006). «The Origins of Word Processing Software for Personal Computers: 1976-1985». IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. 28 (4): 32–47. doi:10.1109/MAHC.2006.76. ISSN 1934-1547. S2CID 18895790. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
- ^ Bergin, Thomas J. (October 2006). «The Proliferation and Consolidation of Word Processing Software: 1985-1995». IEEE Annals of the History of Computing. 28 (4): 48–63. doi:10.1109/MAHC.2006.77. ISSN 1934-1547. S2CID 20785663. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
External links[edit]
What is a Word Processor?
What is a Word Processor?You might have heard the widely thrown around term of ‘paperless office’ or ‘paperless environment’. Although we’re still a long way off from realizing that dream, but there are instances where paper as such is no longer required to any type of official business level communication.
Most of the credit for this definitely goes to word processor programs and applications that help employees put in their communication through digital means. Not only have such word processors allowed for quick and easy communication internally (or externally) within an organization but also has helped improve effectiveness and efficiency of a workplace – since waiting times have been reduced drastically.
So before we dive deep into the different types of word processors available in the market, let’s have a look at how it all began.
The History of Word Processor – How It All Began?
Take today’s word processors as an extension or an evolved form of a type writer. Originally marketed back in 1867, a manual typewriter was first introduced in to the market by a gun manufacturing company.
The first phase of this evolution involved electric typewriters, which could be used for typing of letters automatically while adding/removing specific letters in case of any corrections.
Automatic Typewriters
This was as ‘automatic’ as you could get – a type writer person would manually type something, then proof read it for any mistakes. Once he/she was satisfied, a final re-type would be needed to actually finish the document.
The operators in charge of these word processors were trained typists, who had to be very careful with specifics of a page like orientation, line spacing, page width and all of these details had to be taken into consideration manually. Later on, change in font was added as a new feature enjoyed by some of the leading newspaper agencies for their print production and newsletters. The default ‘typing ball’ font slowly was replaced by a collection of changeable fonts.
From Typewriters to Word Processors
At that time, there were no personal computers. Machines would specifically be built for the purpose of word processing. Rather than evolving through ideas of mathematicians and computer geeks, the word processor was in fact born out of the necessity of writers. Later on, as the computers started to trickle down into our personal lives did we see word processors integrated with the personal computer.
As such, the actual introduction of word processing software that we see today is not marked for sure with a historical timeline. But it’s safe to say that with the mass division of personal computers and printers in the early 1990’s, typewriters as such were fully replaced with dedicated word processing software and programs rather than having to resort to separate machines for typing text on to paper.
Let us fast forward to present time and see what exactly are Word Processors used for nowadays.
Word Processors – What Are They Used For?
In a contemporary office (or a professional) environment, a word processing software is used to create documents and reports like for example a resume or a marketing proposal. Text is entered by typing letters using a keyboard on to a software that takes care of the functions of editing, copying, pasting, deleting and other formatting methods.
Features of a Word Processor
Some of the basic features of a word processor includes:
- Copying, editing, saving and printing reports and documents
- Copying, deleting, pasting, and shifting text within a certain page/document
- Formatting of text like changing size (font size), italicizing (italics), bolding (bold) or strikethroughs and underlines
- Formatting tables (drawing/inserting rows and columns to make full-fledged tables)
- Placing pictures, graphs and all sorts of illustrations within and around the text document
- Correction of spelling mistakes and a fully functioning dictionary in most cases
Word processing software should not be confused with simple text editors. Text editors (like Window’s Notepad) can also allow you to type in text with a few basic formatting inputs but don’t have the more advanced features like underlining, different fonts, adding pictures and graphs etc.
Top Three Popular and Best Word Processors
So let us now look at what word processors are the best options available out there in the market. We will start off with the most popular one as of yet; Microsoft Word.
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is hands down the most popular of all word processing software out there. According to the company Microsoft itself, the estimation is that around half a billion people on this planet currently use Microsoft Word for the purpose of word processing. It is therefore no surprise that 90 percent of the word processing market share is captured by Microsoft Word.
Originally introduced to the public back in the year 1989, the current version of Microsoft Word has seen numerous updates (multiple times each year) and comes as a package with the suite of Office applications along with PowerPoint, Publisher, Excel, and Outlook.
WordPerfect
If you ask someone knowledgeable in the computer industry to name a software other than Microsoft Word itself, the word WordPerfect will be the obvious answer. More suited towards writing short essays and quick articles, WordPerfect best strength is its compatibility with Microsoft Word. A bit ironic but it definitely does the trick when you need to open up WordPerfect documents with Microsoft Word.
Lotus Word Pro
If your office computers are integrated on Lotus portal, then Lotus Word Pro is your ideal for all your needs. Lotus Word Pro can be connected with all your Lotus applications to produce properly formatted documents. Although it’s produced and distributed by IBM Corporation, it’s also compatible with Windows based programs particularly Microsoft Word.
Author: Bilal Ibrar
A marketing graduate with a passion for writing on topics related to social media, technology and business in general. Hobbies include gaming, animation and motorsports
Technically, all you need to write on a computer is Notepad, the basic line text program first introduced by Microsoft to home computer users back in the early 1980s. If you tend to use your computer for more advanced word processing tasks, such as creating brochures or even research papers, you may actually be looking for something a little more advanced.
There are open source word processing programs available to everyone that have their benefits and drawback, just as there are other paid options that might or might not have what you need. If you are working with a trial and wonder how to activate Microsoft Office,> might be that your time has run out and you need to purchase the full program. While some people might be able to get by with Notepad or never go beyond needing their free trial programs, most actually need something stable and substantive. Here are the specs of the most popular word processing software for PCs.
The OpenOffice Suite
Created as an alternative to Microsoft Office, OpenOffice is a massively popular word processing program as it has been made available for free usage, worldwide. You can create macros, highlight text, change fonts, and do a lot of the same things that you can in paid programs. On the flip side, OpenOffice can be glitchy and cumbersome as well. When it comes to converting file formats, you are just as likely to get a document with perfectly formatted text as you are a file that is almost completely illegible. So, if you are planning to create and send a resume or are working on a project that has a high degree of precision, you might want to look for something more stable and predictable than OpenOffice. On the other hand, if you just need something to write up some notes, write the first draft of a story, or create a ‘things to’ list, OpenOffice is pretty solid.
Corel WordPerfect
Surprisingly, Corel is the creator of photo editors as well as word processing software. WordPerfect is interesting in that it functions a lot like Microsoft Word, but the program itself is fairly basic. There have been many updates to WordPerfect, but the menu and layout remain almost totally unchanged, so users don’t need to spend a lot of time re-acclimating themselves after getting a newer version. Perhaps this is because WordPerfect is the designated word processing program for legal professionals. Legal transcripts, which are the official written record of legal proceedings are created, saved, and distributed via WordPerfect. This means that millions of judges, lawyers, paralegals, and transcriptionists solely use WordPerfect to create and edit texts that will have a big effect on verdicts. WordPerfect users also consist of college students, stay-at-home dads, and casual computer users.
Microsoft Notepad
You may or may not have ever needed to use Notepad, which is usually located somewhere near the basic Microsoft Paint program if you are using a Windows operating system based computer. In short, Notepad is a no frill basic line text editing program. What you see is really what you get with Notepad. There’s only one default available font. You can, however, bold and italicize text. Also, the save feature allows you to pick a file name for your projects. Unfortunately, Notepad documents can only be saved in one format. Basically, if you are a programmer and you need something simple to jot down lines of code, Notepad is great. For students, Notepad won’t generally work because you won’t have enough features available to satiate your teachers. There’s nothing wrong with Notepad as it is a basic word processing tool, but it is exceedingly plain compared to other programs.
The Microsoft Office Suite
Pretty much everyone is familiar with Microsoft Word. Public schools around the U.S. have the Microsoft Office Suite downloaded onto every computer in their libraries. On home computers, Microsoft Word comes bundled so that even first-time PC users see the Microsoft Office Suite as the default word processor. Over the years, a lot about Microsoft Word has changed. From the layout even to file format accessibility, you can do a lot more with a Word document now than you could in past years. Word is a really good tool for making just about any kind of document, from invoices to book reports. If you need an inclusive word processing software that will let you convert file formats, track changes, insert pictures, and select from hundreds of fonts, this is probably the program you want running on your computer.
When you need to sit down on your computer and create a written document, you don’t need to struggle to select a program to use. In fact, you should simply have a default word processor that you go to to fulfill all of your computer writing needs. Whether you choose Notepad or even WordPerfect, once you choose a default you will get your tasks finished faster and the results will be better than expected.
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