Microsoft Word is a great tool for creating professional-looking files and documents. Even if you have never used it before, you can still create a rich document without possessing any special skills or knowledge. The software is intuitive and easy to use, and the best part is that you can download Microsoft Word for free.
Word already comes with all the necessary components to work with documents. However, you can go even further by installing some handy Microsoft Word add-ins. Like a plugin that will help you improve your writing or a plugin that helps you integrate an image sharing service into Word.
We’ve curated the best add-ins for Word so you don’t have to waste time browsing through the many different add-ins in Microsoft Office.
Where to Find Microsoft Word Add-ins
If you decide to spice up your Word by adding a few extra plugins, you don’t have to go far to find them. You can browse all the add-ins in the official Microsoft Office store. There, you can read about every plugin before deciding to add it to your Word.
How to install add-ins for Word
Once you have selected a plugin that you want to add, follow these steps to install it.
- Open the Word document.
- In the main ribbon menu at the top, look for Insert navigation.
- Below Insertoption Add.
- This will take you to Office Add-ins menu.
- When you find a plugin you like, click add to install it into your Word. You can then review the plugins you’ve added in the same menu below My Plugins.
Now let’s take a look at some of the best Microsoft Word add-ins we found.
Although Wikipedia is not considered one of the most trusted sources to get your information, it is still one of the largest open source encyclopedias you can find online. And it can be helpful to have it as a widget alongside your writing or editing.
You can browse Wikipedia articles by typing your entry in the search bar. Or simply highlight a word or phrase in your document and the plugin will automatically generate a matching post.
While you can’t contribute to a Wikipedia page while using this plugin, gaining some more knowledge about the topic you’re working on can be a welcome distraction.
This add-in allows you to link Excel and Word documents, thus connecting and exchanging data back and forth without having to manually copy them.
Now, if you need to update your Word document with Excel data, you can paste it from the spreadsheet straight into your Word file. And it will be more beautiful if you just try and insert your Excel sheet into a Word document.
The types of data that you can associate include text, lists, tables, images, and charts.
MyScript Math Simple is a useful Microsoft Word add-in if you find yourself using a lot of equations when working in Word. Especially if you don’t want to waste time searching Word’s library of equations to find the right formula.
To add an equation, simply write it in the plugin window with your mouse or finger. The add-in will recognize the math symbols and automatically turn it into an entered equation.
The Vertex42 add-on can help you be more productive and save time. It offers a wide range of templates not available on Word.
The templates in Vertex are organized by category. You can browse over 300 templates that serve dozens of purposes, from budgeting to exercise journaling. It also includes some of our favorite meeting minutes templates.
Pixabay is a free to use photo sharing website with one of the largest directories of Creative Commons images. You can find anything from vintage photography, to vector images, illustrations, and even some movie scenes in their database. All of which are useful when you’re working on a presentation or a flyer in Word.
To access the entire pixabay catalog, install the Pixabay Images plugin and then enter the image reference in the search bar on the side.
The Consistency Checker is a must-have Microsoft Word utility if you hope to one day write like a pro. It is not a simple spell checker. This plugin promises to find mistakes in your writing that “no other grammar checker can find”.
In addition to grammar and spelling, the plugin checks the consistency of your posts. That includes the use of numbers in sentences, different international spellings, hyphens, and others. If you’re writing a full-fledged document, the add-in will catch any abbreviations you use and ask you to spell it out. Finally, your text will be well-read and ready to use.
I Should Be Writing is a simple productivity plugin. It combines the features of both a timer and a word counter and is designed to help you write more efficiently.
Switch it to timer mode if you’re racing against a deadline. Or switch it to word count mode for extra motivation. After your writing session is over, you can view your own work statistics and analyze your results.
You can use the classic daytime version of the plugin or switch to the trendy dark mode. The ability to get other users to join and turn your article into a contest is also a nice bonus.
Go further with Microsoft Word Add-Ins
Learning how to get the most out of any piece of software can make your life easier and improve your overall user experience. In the same way, becoming a proficient user of Word can take your work to the next level.
Learning some essential Microsoft Word tips and tricks could be the perfect first step there. Then it would be a good thing to start using the Microsoft Word add-ins.
Which Microsoft Word plugin do you use? Does it improve your workflow and productivity in any way? Share your experience with us in the comments section below.
