Writing an essay on Windows 8 can be straightforward once you learn some basics. Windows 8 introduced a new modern user interface designed for touchscreens, though it works just as well with a keyboard and mouse. With the right tools and knowledge, you’ll be able to write and format multi-page essays efficiently on Windows 8.
The first step is choosing word processing software. Windows 8 comes preinstalled with the modern Windows app versions of WordPad and Notepad, but these have limited formatting options. For serious writing, you’ll want Microsoft Word or an alternative like LibreOffice or Google Docs. Word offers the most robust set of essay writing and formatting tools built-in. You can download and install the full version of Word from the Microsoft Store app on Windows 8.
Once you have your word processor of choice installed, create a new blank document to start your essay. By default, new Word documents are in plain text format without any styling applied. You’ll want to set up your essay template first before writing. Go to the “Home” tab and select a font style, size, and text alignment for the main body of your essay. Consider choosing Times New Roman size 12, with left-aligned text as this is a standard essay format.
You’ll also want to set up heading styles. Headings help organize your essay and make it easy to navigate. In Word, choose the “Home” tab then click the arrow under “Styles” to open the Styles gallery. Select Heading 1, Heading 2, etc. for different heading levels in your essay. Apply Heading 1 to your introductory paragraph then Heading 2s for subsections. This automatically formats the text as well as adds outline numbering.
Now you’re ready to start typing your essay content. Keep paragraphs concise and focused on one main idea each. Double check that text is left-aligned and in your chosen font and size. As you write, Word automatically saves your work periodically in the background. But it’s a good idea to manually save (Ctrl + S) every 15-20 minutes too in case of a computer issue. Name your file something descriptive like “History Essay Draft 1.” Save to your OneDrive folder or other cloud storage for automatic backups.
When ready to add citations and references, switch to the “References” tab in Word. This tab has tools for managing sources and formatting in-text citations and bibliographies in MLA, APA, Chicago, or other styles. You can manually enter sources or let Word generate citations automatically by scanning your essay text for sources added to the Source Manager. Then place the appropriate in-text citation at the end of sentences paraphrasing or directly quoting sources.
Keep organizing content using Word’s powerful outlining tools. Go to “View” then “Outline” to collapse and expand sections and rearrange content. Drag and drop paragraphs to reorder them. Insert section breaks using Ctrl + Enter to separate body paragraphs from your conclusion. When done, switch back to “Print Layout” view to proofread formatting.
For a polished final essay appearance, double check spacing, indentation, page margins and headers/footers are set properly. Go to “Layout” tab and choose “Paragraph” group for line and paragraph spacing. Under “Page Setup” group, confirm margins are 1″ all around and insert page numbers or running header with your last name and page number in the footer space.
Proofread thoroughly before saving as a PDF or printing. Spell check with Ctrl + 1, then read aloud or have someone else proofread for errors you may have missed. Edit and refine as needed until essay is polished and error-free. Save a final copy in Word format for your records as well as a PDF for submission. Congrats, your finished essay is now ready to submit on time from your Windows 8 device! With the right tools and techniques, you can write high quality essays just as effectively using Windows as other operating systems.