How to Change Microsoft Word Global Preferences

Changing General Global Settings
1. Launch Microsoft Word, and click the 'File' tab in the Office ribbon.
2. Click the 'General' tab, and use the selection boxes and drop-down menus to select your preferences for how Word appears, such as your color scheme, user name and whether Word shows you miniature toolbars when you select items. Any changes listed under the User Interface Options section apply to all documents, including previously saved items. All other changes apply only to new documents.
3. Click the 'Display' tab, and click inside the check boxes to select your display preference, such as whether or not to show the white space between pages or view formatting marks for paragraphs and other items.
4. Click the 'Proofing' tab, and select your proofreading preferences, such as ignoring hyperlinks during spell-checking. To set your AutoCorrect options, click the 'AutoCorrect Options' button and chose which items you want Word to automatically correct or change for you. Click 'OK' to save your AutoCorrect changes and return to the main Options settings.
5. Click the 'Save' tab to set your saving preferences, including default file location and whether to save as the current or previous version of Word.
6. Select the 'Language' tab to set any language preferences, and use the 'Advanced' tab to select how Word behaves for items such as selecting words, following hyperlinks, dragging and dropping and copying and pasting.
7. Select the 'Customize Ribbon' or 'Quick Access Toolbar' tabs to change how Word displays your tools.
8. Click 'OK' at the bottom of the screen when you finish making all of your changes. These changes will apply to new documents.
Changing Font and Spacing
9. Launch a new or existing Word document.
10. Click the 'Home' tab, and then click the small arrow in the lower right corner of the 'Font' area. Select your preferred font and style from the 'Font' tab, and then click 'Set as Default' and 'OK.' Do the same on the 'Advanced' tab to set default spacing and positioning.
11. Click the small arrow at the bottom left of the 'Paragraph' area on the Office ribbon. Choose your preferred indentation and spacing settings, and then click 'Set as Default' and 'OK.' Do the same on the 'Line and Paragraph Breaks' tab if desired.