We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about gutter margins in Microsoft Word.

What Is a Gutter Margin in Word?

A gutter margin is the space outside of the page margin on the left, top, or inside of the document. Its purpose is to provide extra space for binding documents such as physical books, manuals, or similar printed materials.

This added space ensures that your content remains intact with enough room for the binding.

Gutter Margin Size and Position

To determine the size for the gutter margin, check with the service that will bind the document as it may vary by company or the number of pages. If you’re doing it yourself, 0.5 inches is the average gutter margin.

While you can set the gutter margin size you need in Word, you can only choose its position when you use the Normal page setting. This allows you to pick the left or top for the gutter margin.

If you use the Mirror Margins, 2 Pages per Sheet, or Book Fold setting, you can still add the gutter margin size, but the position is on the left or inside by default. You’ll also notice that the Gutter position setting is grayed out for these document types.

Gutter Margin Feature

The gutter margin feature is available in the Word desktop application on Windows and Mac. While Word on the web and the Word mobile apps support the feature if you add it on the desktop, they do not provide the ability to add or adjust gutter margins.

When Do You Need a Gutter Margin?

As mentioned, you should use a gutter margin for printed items that are bound like books, manuals, booklets, catalogs, and related materials.

You may also add a gutter margin if you plan to print and bind the document using a ring, spiral, comb, or similar binding method. You typically see items such as training materials, study resources, portfolios, and legal documents bound this way.

The bottom line is that for any document you plan to bind, you should add a gutter margin.

How to Add a Gutter Margin in Word

You can add a gutter margin in the Word desktop application on Windows and Mac the same way.

1. With your document open in Word, go to the Layout tab.
2. Select the Margins drop-down menu in the Page Setup group and choose Custom Margins at the bottom.

3. In the Page Setup dialog box, confirm you’re on the Margins tab.
4. Use the Gutter setting in the Margins section to set the size for the gutter margin.

5. If you’re using Normal in the Multiple Pages drop-down menu, you can also choose the Gutter position. Pick from Left or Top.

6. As you make your adjustments, you’ll see the Preview near the bottom on Windows and the right side on Mac. The gutter margin displays in a black and white checkered pattern.

7. Select OK when you finish.

When you return to your document, you’ll notice the addition of the gutter margin outside the margin.

In the screenshot below, you can see our document before (left) and after (right) adding a top gutter margin. You’ll notice extra space above the Header section, or top margin.

Remove a Gutter Margin Word

If you need to remove the gutter margin after you add it, this is easy by returning to the margin settings.

Head back to the Layout tab, open the Margins drop-down menu, and pick Custom Margins. In the Page Setup box, set the Gutter size to “0” and select OK to save the change.

To make sure your printed document is easy to read and the words aren’t too close to the binding, simply add a gutter margin in Word. For more help with your document, look at how to insert page numbers in Word as well as in Google Docs.

Bubble letters appear curvy and bouncy with an almost cartoon-style feel, making them ideal for casual creations. You can use one of Word’s built-in font styles or download a bubble typeface from an online source. Then, simply apply the style and spruce it up to your liking. Here’s how to create bubble letters in Word on Windows and Mac.

Use a Word Font Style for Bubble Letters

Microsoft Word provides numerous font styles to pick from with one of them being perfect for bubble letters. The style is called Jumble and it’s available in Word on Windows and Mac.

1. Select the text you want to turn into bubble letters and head to the Home tab. Tip: Bubble letter words often look better in all uppercase, but you can include lowercase if you prefer.
2. Open the Font drop-down box which displays your current font style.
3. Select Jumble.

You’ll then see those airy letters that you can leave as-is or add some flair as we’ll describe later.

Download and Install a Bubble Letter Font

If you’ve never added a new font on your computer before, there are many websites offering both free and paid styles. For bubble letters specifically, here are four free sites and a cool option for you to consider from each. We’ll then explain how to install the font on both Windows and Mac.

DaFont

DaFont is a free font site suggested by Microsoft on their Add a Font support page. This site provides over 100 bubble styles for you to choose from. One great bubble font is called BubbleGum.

You can use the Search box at the top to find “BubbleGum” and then select Download to the right.

FontSpace

Another terrific source for fonts is FontSpace. They have an entire category dedicated to bubble style fonts with one standout option called Balloons!. This is a cute option if you want a bubble outline style rather than a filled font.

Like DaFont, use the Search box at the top to locate “Balloons” and choose the Download icon (cloud and arrow) on the right.

1001 Fonts

If you’re looking for something unique, take a look at the Ghostmeat bubble font from 1001 Fonts. This one is also outlined with white in the center but emits an almost scribble or hand lettering feel.

Search for “Ghostmeat” in the box at the top and select Download when you see the font.

Freepik

One more site you may want to check out is Freepik. They have three pages of options with a super puffy style called Bamew which resembles a graffiti letter font.

This site’s Search is a bit more difficult when looking for a particular font name. So, it’s best to use this direct link to the Freepik bubble fonts.

Browse through the options for one you like or select the Bamew style and choose Download.

Install Your Bubble Letter Font

Once you find a bubble style you like and download it, you simply need to install the font on your Windows computer or Mac to make it available in Microsoft Word.

Install a Font on Windows

1. You can select the Downloads option in the web browser you’re using or launch File Explorer and open your Downloads folder. The file should be in a ZIP format.

2. When you double-click the ZIP file to extract the contents, you’ll see various files, depending on the exact font you picked. You may see TrueType, OpenType, or both file types. Right-click the one you want to install and choose Open.

3. In the subsequent window, you’ll see a preview of the font. Select Install at the top and then close the window.

When you return to Microsoft Word, you should see your new bubble style in the Font drop-down box on the Home tab.

Note: You may need to restart Microsoft Word to display the new font.

Install a Font on Mac

1. Like on Windows, you can open the Downloads location for your web browser or launch Finder and open the Downloads folder to install the font on Mac.

2. Double-click the ZIP file and then open the folder inside. You may see more than one file, depending on the font you downloaded.

3. Then, double-click the file you want to open and you’ll see a preview of it in the macOS Font Book showing the bubble letter alphabet. Select Install and then close the window.

Restart Microsoft Word, go to the Home tab, and you’ll see your new bubble style in the Font drop-down box.

Bonus: Enhance Your Bubble Letters

While you can certainly use the bubble font as-is, whether the Jumble style in Word or the one you install, you can also spruce it up a bit. To make it bubblier or more colorful, here are just a couple of suggestions using Word’s built-in font formatting features.

Add Color to the Font

If you have a color scheme for the item you’re creating, you can easily change the font from basic black.

Select the text, go to the Home tab, and pick the color in the Font Color drop-down menu.

You might want to take it a step further and add some depth to the letters using a text effect.

On the Home tab, pick a style in the Text Effects drop-down menu or on the Insert tab use the Word Art menu. Here, we select the orange, white, and shadow option.

Transform the Text to 3D

To make your letters look more like real bubbles, you can apply both a text and 3D effect.

1. Go to the Home tab, open the Text Effects, and choose the light gray inner shadow option on the bottom right.

2. Return to the Text Effects drop-down menu, move to Shadow, and select Shadow Options to open the formatting sidebar.

3. Then, expand the 3-D Format section, open the Top bevel drop-down menu, and pick Round or Angle. You’ll then see your bubble letters pop.

4. You can also apply a different color afterwards, again, using the Font Color menu on the Home tab.

Additionally, you can try out Word’s other font formatting features like Glow, Reflection, or Shadow to apply different unique looks to your letters.

Now that you know how to make bubble letters in Word, check out a related tutorial like how to change the default font in your Microsoft Office apps including PowerPoint.

Note: As of this writing, the strikethrough text formatting option is not available in the Outlook mobile app on Android or iOS.

How to Strikethrough in the Outlook Desktop App

You have different ways to apply strikethrough to text in Outlook on Windows versus Mac.

Strikethrough in Outlook on Windows

Type your text in a new email, reply, or forward. Then, select the text by dragging your cursor through it and do one of the following.

• Right-click and choose Font.
• Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + D.
• Open the Font launcher by selecting the tiny arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Basic Text section of the ribbon.

When the Font dialog box opens, confirm you’re on the Font tab. Then, check the box for Strikethrough and choose OK. Notice that you can also pick Double Strikethrough if you really mean it. This uses double lines to cross out text instead of just one.

You’ll then see your selected text updated with the strikethrough format.

To remove the strikethrough, follow the same steps above to open the Font window, uncheck the box for Strikethrough, and select OK.

Strikethrough in Outlook on Mac

On Mac, you have a couple of ways to apply strikethrough in Outlook.

For the quickest option, select the text by dragging your cursor through it. Then, use the Strikethrough button in the email window toolbar.

Alternatively, you can do one of the following:

• Go to Format > Font in the menu bar.
• Right-click and pick Font.

In the Font box that appears, make sure you’re on the Font tab. Mark the checkbox for Strikethrough and select OK. Just like on Windows, you can use the Double Strikethrough option as well.

You’ll then see your text crossed out using the strikethrough format.

To remove the strikethrough, follow the same steps and then deselect the Strikethrough button or uncheck the box for Strikethrough in the Font window.

How to Strikethrough in the Outlook Web App

If you’re using the Outlook application in your web browser, you can apply strikethrough to your text easily.

Select the text you want to cross out by dragging through it and use the Strikethrough button in the toolbar at the top.

You’ll then see your updated text with the strikethrough format.

To remove the strikethrough, select the text and deselect the Strikethrough option in the toolbar.

When you want to show text in an email but cross it out, like a list of to-dos or text edits, the strikethrough effect in Outlook is the ideal way to go. For more, look at how to change the font size in Outlook.

You can use small caps in Word on Windows and Mac easily. The feature isn’t currently available in Word for the web or the Word mobile app; however, there is a workaround you can use if you like. Let’s take a look.

Apply Small Caps in Word on Windows

To format a word, phrase, sentence, or paragraph as small caps in Word on Windows, follow these simple steps.

1. Select the text. You can do this by double-clicking a word, triple-clicking a paragraph, or dragging your cursor through the entire string.
2. Right-click and choose Font or open the Font launcher by clicking the arrow in the bottom right corner of the Font group on the Home tab.

3. In the Font dialog box that appears, make sure the Font tab is selected. Then, check the box for Small caps in the Effects section. Select OK to apply the formatting.

You’ll then see your existing text update to small caps.

Tip: For a quick way to apply small caps, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + K.

Apply Small Caps in Word on Mac

You can format your text as small caps in Word for Mac as easily as Word on Windows, just slightly differently.

1. Select the text you want to format by double- or triple-clicking or dragging your cursor through it.
2. Right-click and choose Font or select Format > Font from the menu bar.

3. In the Font window, confirm you’re on the Font tab and mark the Small caps checkbox in the Effects section. Select the OK button to apply the formatting.

You can then see that your selected text is displayed in small caps.

Tip: For a fast way to do small caps, use the keyboard shortcut Command + Shift + K.

Apply Small Caps in Word on the Web

As mentioned, the small caps effect isn’t available in Word on the web. One way to mimic this is by changing the text case and then decreasing the font size.

1. Select the text you want to format by double- or triple-clicking or dragging your cursor through it.
2. Go to the Home tab and open the Change Case drop-down menu in the Font section. Select UPPER CASE.

3. With your text still selected, use the Font Size drop-down box in the same Font section to choose a smaller size.

You’ll then see your text appear in a small caps format. While maybe not the ideal solution, it works.

Apply Small Caps in Word on Mobile

Like Word on the web, the mobile app for Android and iPhone doesn’t offer the small caps option. However, you can use the same workaround to apply all caps and reduce the font size.

1. Select the text you want to format by tapping to highlight a word and then dragging the blue circle or indicator to select any remaining words.
2. On Android, tap Edit in the toolbar or on iPhone, tap the Format button at the top.
3. When the menu displays at the bottom, confirm you’re in the Home section and pick More Formatting.

4. Select Change Case and choose UPPERCASE. Use the arrow on the top left of the bottom pop-up screen to return.

5. Tap the Font Size option and use the slider, minus button, or list to pick a smaller font size.

Swipe to close the bottom screen, and your text will be updated to resemble the small caps formatting.

Stop Yelling, Emphasize Subtly

By formatting your text with a small caps font in Word, you can add emphasis to words or other text without making those words jump off the page as if you’re yelling at the reader.

With any luck, Microsoft will bring the official small caps feature to Word on the web and the mobile app. Until then, hopefully the workaround described here helps you accomplish what you need.

For more Microsoft Office tutorials, look at how to vertically align text in Word.

From figuring out a payment schedule to seeing how much you can afford, take advantage of loan calculator templates or use Excel’s built-in financial functions.

Loan Calculator Templates for Excel

One of the best ways to keep up with your loan, payments, and interest is with a handy tracking tool and loan calculator for Excel. These templates cover the most common types of loans and are all available for free.

Simple Loan Calculator

For personal loans, you can see a helpful chart and amortization schedule until your loan is paid off with this simple loan calculator template.

Enter the loan details including amount, interest rate, term, and start date. You’ll then see the summary table, amortization schedule, and column chart update automatically.

The summary table is useful for seeing your total interest and the total cost of the loan, for a nice overview.

Auto Loan Calculator

Whether you already have a car loan or are considering one, this template has you covered. The workbook contains three tabs for auto loan details, payment calculating, and loan comparisons, so you can use the template before and during your repayment.

Start with the Loan Comparisons tab when deciding the best loan for you. You can see the payment amounts for various interest rates. You can also compare amounts based on the total number of payments, payment frequency, and different down payment amounts.

Next, enter your loan details on the Auto Loan Calculator tab including purchase price, loan amount, down payment, trade-in price, transfer fees, sales tax, and miscellaneous fees. You’ll then see your payment schedule on the Payment Calculator tab with a table showing dates, interest, principal, and balance.

When you’re ready to purchase the car of your dreams, keep track of it all with this template.

Mortgage Loan Calculator

If you’re trying to figure out how much you can afford or have recently been approved for a fixed mortgage loan, this Excel template shows you everything you need.

Enter the loan amount, interest rate, term, number of payments per term, and start date. You can then review the scheduled payment amount, number of payments, and total payments and interest, along with the date of your last payment.

You’ll also see a helpful table with all dates and amounts so you can track the interest paid and your remaining balance as time passes.

Balloon Loan Calculator

Maybe you have a balloon loan instead of a fixed loan for your mortgage or vehicle. With this Excel calculator template, you can view a summary and amortization schedule with the final payment for your loan.

Enter the loan details including starting amount and date, interest rate, amortization period, and number of payments per term. Then, review the summary showing your monthly payment, balloon payment, total interest, and total payments.

The amortization schedule keeps you on top of your loan from start to finish.

College Loan Calculator

When it’s time to start paying off your college loan(s), this template for Microsoft 365 is ideal. You can see the percentage of your salary required and estimated monthly income.

Enter your annual salary, loan payback start date, and general details for each student loan. You’ll then see payback information including the length in years and ending date for each loan with payment details as well as total interest.

For a helpful college loan repayment plan, this template can keep you on track.

Line of Credit Calculator

For your line of credit, this calculator shows you every piece of information you need about your loan. You’ll never wonder about the accrued interest or the number of payments you’ve made with this convenient calculator for Excel.

Enter the credit limit, starting interest rate, draw period, first day of interest accrual, payment frequency, and number of days. You can also include rate change details and include additional payments.

For reviewing your line of credit details, use this simple tool for calculations and tracking.

Loan Amortization Schedule

If you use Microsoft 365, you can take advantage of this loan amortization schedule. With it, you can calculate your total interest and payments with the option for extra payments.

Enter your basic loan details including the loan amount, annual interest rate, term, number of payments per term, and the start date of the loan. Then, enter your payment information and optionally extra payments.

You’ll immediately see the amortization table update with all the details you need to keep up with your loan payments, principal, balance, interest, and cumulative interest.

Loan Payment, Interest, and Term Functions in Excel

If you want to figure out the payment amounts, interest rate, or term for a loan, you can use a few handy Excel functions. These let you see how much you can afford based on different amounts, rates, and timeframes.

With each function and its formula, you enter a few pieces of information to see the results. You can then adjust those details to obtain different results and perform simple comparisons.

Note: The formulas you see below do not take into account any additional fees or costs charged by your lender.

Calculate Loan Payments

If you’ve been approved for a specific loan amount and interest rate, you can figure out your payments easily. You can then see if you should shop around for a better rate, need to reduce your loan amount, or should increase the number of payments. For this, you’ll use the PMT function in Excel.

The syntax for the formula is PMT(rate, num_pay, principal, future_value, type) with the first three arguments required.

• Rate: The annual interest rate (divided by 12 in the formula)
• Num_pay: The number of payments for the loan
• Principal: The total loan amount
• For an annuity, you can use future_value for the value after the last payment is made and type for when the payment is due.

Here, we have our annual interest rate in cell B2, number of payments in cell B3, and loan amount in cell B4. You would enter the following formula in cell B5 to determine your payments:

=PMT(B2/12,B3,B4)

With the formula in place, you can then change the amounts you’ve entered to see how this affects the payment. You can enter a lower interest rate or higher number of payments to get your payment amount where it needs to be. The formula result updates automatically.

Calculate an Interest Rate

If you have a current loan and are unsure of your annual interest rate, you can calculate it in just minutes. All you need is your loan term, payment amount, principal, and Excel’s RATE function.

The syntax for the formula is RATE(term, pmt, principal, future_value, type, guess_rate) with the first three arguments required.

• Term: The term in years (multiplied by 12 in the formula) or the total number of payments
• Pmt: The monthly payment entered as a negative number
• Principal: The total loan amount
• For an annuity, you can use the future_value and type arguments as described above and guess_rate for your estimated rate.

Here, we have our loan term in years in cell B2, monthly payment in cell B3 (entered as a negative number), and loan amount in cell B4. You would enter the following formula in cell B5 to calculate your interest rate:

=RATE(B2*12,E3,E4)*12

Now you can see the interest rate you’re paying on the loan with a simple formula.

Tip: To calculate a monthly interest rate rather than yearly, remove the *12 from the end of the formula.

Calculate a Payment Term

Maybe you’re trying to decide the best loan term for your situation. With the interest rate, payment amount, and loan amount, you can see the term in years. This lets you then adjust the rate or payment to increase or decrease the number of years for repayment. Here, we’ll use the NPER (number of periods) function in Excel.

The syntax for the formula is NPER(rate, pmt, principal, future_value, type) with the first three arguments required.

• Rate: The annual interest rate (divided by 12 in the formula) or the flat rate
• Pmt: The monthly payment entered as a negative number.
• Principal: The total loan amount
• For an annuity, you can use the future_value and type arguments as described earlier.

Here, we have the annual interest rate in cell B2, monthly payment in cell B3 (entered as a negative number), and loan amount in cell B4. You would enter the following formula in cell B5 to calculate your loan term:

=NPER(B2/12,B3,B4)

Again, you can then adjust the basic loan details and see the term update automatically for the timeframe and amounts that work for you.

Mind Your Money

If you’re on the fence about taking out a loan or already have one, keep these templates and functions in mind or give one a try. Being conscious of your loan details, from the interest rate to the term, is as important as making the payments.

For more, look at these online calculators which include those for loans.