ICDL Documents (ICDL) key terms

Software used to create, edit, format, and print text-based documents such as letters, reports, and memos. It stores files electronically and lets you revise content without retyping the whole page.

A blinking marker on screen showing where the next typed character will appear. It moves as you type or when you click elsewhere in the text, and it is also called the insertion point.

A block of text or an object that has been highlighted so that an action applies only to it. You can select by dragging, double-clicking a word, or using keyboard shortcuts.

A temporary storage area in memory that holds cut or copied content until it is pasted somewhere else. It usually keeps only the most recent item unless a longer history feature is enabled.

Removing selected content from its current position and placing it on the clipboard so it can be pasted elsewhere. The original text disappears once the cut is complete.

Duplicating selected content onto the clipboard while leaving the original in place. Pasting then inserts an additional instance of that content at the chosen location.

Inserting clipboard content at the cursor position or replacing the current selection. Some programs offer options to keep source formatting or match the destination style.

Reversing the most recent action or series of actions so the document returns to an earlier state. Most programs keep a limited history of reversible steps.

Reapplying an action that was just undone. It restores the change you reversed, provided you have not performed a new edit in between.

A tool that searches for specified text and can substitute it with different text, either one occurrence at a time or all at once. It often supports matching case or whole words only.

A feature that flags words not found in the program's dictionary and suggests alternatives. It may miss correctly spelled words used in the wrong context, so proofreading is still needed.

A feature that reviews sentence structure, punctuation, and usage, marking possible problems with suggested corrections. It is advisory only, so you decide whether a suggestion is appropriate.

A setting that automatically fixes common typing errors, such as capitalising the first letter of a sentence or correcting misspelled words from a stored list. You can add or remove entries.

A pre-designed document with fixed layout, styles, and placeholder text that you open and fill in. Saving a document as a template lets you reuse the same structure repeatedly.

A file created in a word processor containing text and possibly images, tables, and other objects. It is saved under a name and format so it can be reopened and edited later.

The structure in which a document is saved, indicated by its file extension, such as .docx or .pdf. The chosen format affects compatibility with other software and which features are preserved.

The design of a set of characters, including shape, weight, and spacing, such as Arial or Times New Roman. Changing the font alters the appearance of text without changing its content.

The height of characters measured in points, where one point is roughly 1/72 of an inch. Larger values produce bigger text and affect how much content fits on a page.

Variations applied to a typeface such as bold, italic, and underline, used to emphasise text or distinguish headings. Styles can be combined and removed using toolbar buttons or shortcuts.

The horizontal positioning of text within its margins, commonly left, centre, right, or justified. Justified text is stretched so both edges are flush.

The vertical distance between successive lines of text, often set as single, 1.5, or double. Adjusting it changes readability and the total number of pages.

The amount of blank space added before or after a paragraph, separate from line spacing within it. It helps separate blocks of text without inserting empty lines.

A block of text that ends when the Enter key is pressed, treated as a single unit for formatting such as alignment, indents, and spacing. Formatting usually applies to the whole paragraph.

The distance a paragraph or its first line is set in from the left or right margin. Indents are often used for quotations or to visually group related text.

A list where each item is preceded by a symbol such as a dot or dash, used when order does not matter. The program applies consistent spacing and hanging indents automatically.

A list in which items are automatically labelled with sequential numbers or letters, used when order or priority matters. Inserting or deleting an item renumbers the rest automatically.

A named set of formatting settings for characters, paragraphs, or tables that can be applied in one step. Using styles keeps formatting consistent and allows rapid global changes.

A tool that copies formatting from selected text so you can apply the same appearance to other content. Double-clicking the tool usually keeps it active for multiple applications.

The blank space between the text area and the edges of a page. Margins can be set individually for top, bottom, left, and right, and affect how much text fits per page.

Whether a page is laid out vertically as portrait or horizontally as landscape. Orientation can apply to the whole document or only to a chosen section.

A manual instruction that forces the following content to start on a new page. Unlike repeated Enter presses, it stays fixed when text above it is edited.

A divider that lets different parts of one document use separate page settings, such as margins, orientation, or headers. Content before and after the break can be formatted independently.

Areas at the top and bottom of each page that repeat content such as titles, page numbers, or dates. They can differ between first pages, odd pages, and even pages.

An automatically generated field showing the current page, usually placed in a header or footer. It updates itself when pages are added, removed, or reordered.

A grid of rows and columns used to organise data or align content. Cells can be merged, split, and formatted, and rows can be added or deleted as needed.

The individual box formed where a table row and column intersect, holding text, numbers, or objects. Cells can be resized, merged with neighbours, or shaded.

A line drawn around text, a paragraph, a table, or a cell to provide visual separation or emphasis. Borders can vary in style, thickness, and colour.

A movable container holding text that can be positioned freely on a page, often used for labels or side notes. It can be resized, rotated, and formatted with its own borders and fill.

A picture, photograph, or graphic inserted into a document. Images can be resized, cropped, repositioned, and set to interact with surrounding text in defined ways.

A setting controlling how body text flows around an image or object, such as in line, square, tight, or behind text. The choice affects both appearance and how easily the object can be moved.

An automatically generated list of headings with their page numbers, built from heading styles applied in the document. It can be refreshed to reflect edits and new page numbers.

A short title introducing a section of a document, usually formatted with a heading style. Headings provide structure and feed features such as navigation panes and tables of contents.

A view showing how the document will appear on paper before printing, including page breaks and margins. It helps confirm layout and catch problems before committing to print.

The choice of which pages to send to the printer, such as all pages, the current page, or a specified range like 3-7. Selecting a range avoids wasting paper on unwanted pages.

A file format that preserves a document's layout and appearance on different devices and is difficult to edit casually. It is widely used for sharing final versions and for printing.

Saving a document in a different format from its native one, such as converting a word-processed file to PDF. Some layout or features may change during conversion.

A review feature that records insertions, deletions, and formatting edits so others can see and accept or reject each one. It supports collaborative review without losing the original text.

A note attached to a specific part of a document, visible to reviewers without altering the main text. Comments can be replied to, resolved, and deleted when no longer needed.

The actions used in reviewing to keep a tracked change permanently or to discard it and restore the original text. Reviewers process changes one at a time or all together.

Information stored with a file, such as title, author, subject, and keywords, often called metadata. It helps identify and search for documents without opening them.