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APA Formatting Guide for Microsoft Word: Thesaurus

This guide provides a step by step overview of how to set up documents for APA style in Microsoft Word. The guide also reviews the tools available in Microsoft Word and how they might be useful in a student's paper.

How to use the Built-In Thesaurus

Another handy tool built into Microsoft Word is its thesaurus. This tool will help you to find synonyms so that the content of the paper does not seem repetitive. Here's how to use it:


To use the thesaurus in-text:

1. Select and right-click on the word you want to look up.

2. Go to "Synonyms." From there, a list of potential synonyms will appear. Select the one you want OR go to Step 3. 

 

3. While still in this menu, click on "Thesaurus." 

4. The built in thesaurus will appear in the right pane.


To access the thesaurus tool without selecting a word:

1. Go to the "Review" tab.

 

2. Click on Thesaurus.

 

3. The thesaurus tool will appear in the right pane.


© 2017 by Lindsay Blanken & Jess Cornn