Microsoft® Word 2010 In Depth

17. Outlining and Combining Documents

Outline Basics

Almost everyone has, at one time or another, stared at a blank page trying to get started on a long or complex writing project. Where to begin? What to include? It can be hard to wrap your thoughts around the project without a grasp of the big picture.

That’s where outlining comes in. By starting with an outline, you create a structure or map that guides your writing each step of the journey and forces you to think through the entire writing process. Once the document’s headings are in place, you can start filling in the body text beneath them. Suddenly the project doesn’t seem so overwhelming when you’re tackling it one section at a time with a clear vision of what you want to accomplish. ...