Keyboard Utilization/Word Processing/Desktop Publishing Vocabulary

Keyboard Utilization

1. Arrow Keys--keys used in place of the mouse to move the cursor to a new location

2. Backspace--key which removes the text to the left of the cursor position.

3. Caps lock key--key on a keyboard that causes all letters keyed to be capital letters

4. Character--any letter, number, or symbol typed on the keyboard

5. Command Keys--used in conjunction with another key to carry out an operation

6. Computer--machine that performs four functions: input, processing, storage, and output.  It can perform calculations and process a large amount of information accurately and much more rapidly than the human brain.

7. Cut and Paste--to highlight text and move it to another location

8. Data--information entered into the computer.  The computer processes data.

9. Delete--to remove or erase

10. Delete key--key which removes the text to the right of the cursor position.

11. Document--anything produced in a word processing program 

12. Double space--when keying text, the act of spacing text two lines apart

13. Enter/Return key--key on a keyboard that is used to enter information into a computer or to return the cursor to the beginning of a new line

14. Format--the way the words look on a page

15. Hardcopy--output from a computer that you can touch--(Ex: output from a printer or plotter) 

16. Home row keys--The keys on the keyboard where hands are positioned for typing.  The keys are a, s, d, f, j, k, l, ;

17. Icons--pictures or symbols that represent work (files or programs) behind them 

18. Insert--to add new text into already existing text without deleting previously keyed text

19. Justification--to align text either to the left/right or both margins

20. Keyboard--an input device consisting of a standardized layout of buttons or keys with symbols, such as letters or numbers, that can be entered into a computer by pressing on the keys.

21. Letter keys--keys on a keyboard which contain the letters of the alphabet

22. Menu Bar--The line at the top of the screen that gives you your different choices 

23. Number keys--keys on a keyboard which contain the numbers 0-9

24. Posture--the position of the body or of parts of the body

25. Printer--a mechanical output device that can print text and graphics on paper

26. Printout--output from a printer

27. Return/Enter key--key on a keyboard that is used to enter information into a computer or to return the cursor to the beginning of a new line

28. Scroll--to move text up and down and left and right on the screen 

29. Shift key--key on a keyboard that is used to capitalize letters when pressed with that letter key

30. Softcopy--output from a computer that you can see or hear, but cannot touch--(Ex: output from a monitor or speaker) 

31. Software--instructions on a disk that make the computer work. It tells the computer (CPU) what to do.  Software programs are usually stored on disks until needed.  Often the disk containing the program is called software.

32. Space bar--key on a keyboard that spaces the cursor forward one space at a time and produces a blank space when pressed

33. Special Function Keys--keys that carry out specific things (Ex: Shift keys, Return/Enter keys, Caps Lock key)

34. Strike--to tap or press the keys of a keyboard with a finger or thumb

35. Symbol key--key on a keyboard that contains a symbol

36. Tab key--a key used to indent text in a line; can also be used to set-up columns in a document 

37. Text--another name for alphabetical data that was entered

38. Title Bar--The line near the top of the screen that gives the name of your file 

39. Word Wrap--letting the computer decide where to end each line (typing text without pushing return/enter at the end of each line)

Word Processing/Desktop Publishing

1. Center--to place text horizontally or vertically in the middle of a page

2. Character--any letter, number, or symbol typed on the keyboard

3. Clip Art--picture files that can be pasted into a document

4. Command Keys--used in conjunction with another key to carry out an operation

5. Copy and Paste--to highlight text, leave it where it is, and also put a copy of it in another location

6. Cursor--a highlighted mark (sometimes blinking) on the screen that indicates the user's location. It indicates where the next letter or character will appear when keyed.  Sometimes the cursor is a special picture or icon.

7. Cut and Paste--to highlight text and move it to another location

8. Data--information entered into the computer.  The computer processes data.

9. Desktop Publishing--A computerized layout program that integrates graphics and text to produce a professional looking document.

10. Digitized effects--to change analog information into digital information that the computer can use to produce certain effects.  For example, when a picture is scanned, the picture image is digitized.  This means that the picture image is converted to a digital or numerical format.

11. Document--anything produced in a word processing program 

12. Edit--to make changes to a document or other file

13. File--a word processing document

14. Font--a design style for a complete set of letters, numbers and symbols

15. Format--the way the words look on a page

16. Grammar checker--software program that checks for possible grammar mistakes.  Suggestions or corrections are often given.

17. Graphics--pictures that can be inserted into a document

18. Hardcopy--output from a computer that you can touch--(Ex: output from a printer or plotter) 

19. Home row keys--The keys on the keyboard where hands are positioned for typing.  The keys are a, s, d, f, j, k, l, ;

20. Icons--pictures or symbols that represent work (files or programs) behind them 

21. Justification--to align text either to the left/right or both margins

22. Laser printer--a printer that produces high quality images using a method similar to that of a photo copying machine

23. Layout--the physical placement of text and graphics in a document

24. Load--To enter a program or file into a computer's memory

25. Menu Bar--The line at the top of the screen that gives you your different choices 

26. Move--rearrange text in a document

27. Printout--output from a printer

28. Retrieve--to load a previously saved file from a diskette or hard drive

29. Save--to store a file on diskette or hard drive for future use

30. Scanner--a peripheral device that converts text or pictures into bit-mapped data that is put into a computer.  The digitized images can then be edited.

31. Scroll--to move text up and down and left and right on the screen 

32. Softcopy--output from a computer that you can see or hear, but cannot touch--(Ex: output from a monitor or speaker) 

33. Special Function Keys--keys that carry out specific things (Ex: Shift keys, Return/Enter keys, Caps Lock key)

34. Spell Checker--part of a word processing program that uses a disk-based dictionary to check and correct misspellings in documents

35. Tab key--a key used to indent text in a line; can also be used to set-up columns in a document 

36. Thesaurus--a tool that helps you find words with similar meanings

37. Title Bar--The line near the top of the screen that gives the name of your file 

38. Toolbox--a collection of drawing and painting tools

39. Word Processing--a computerized method of writing, editing, saving, and printing text