When it comes to creating documents, Microsoft Word is a go-to for many people. It’s a powerful word processor with a variety of features that make creating documents a breeze. But sometimes you need to save your document in a different format, such as a PDF. PDFs are great for sharing documents because they maintain their formatting no matter where they are sent. So how do you make a Word doc a PDF? We’ll show you how in this post.
What Is a PDF?
A PDF, or Portable Document Format, is a file type used to store documents in a standard format that can be read on any device. It’s a popular choice for documents that need to be shared across multiple platforms and devices because it keeps the formatting intact, no matter where it is opened. PDFs can also be password protected and encrypted, making them great for storing sensitive information.
How to Convert Word Doc to PDF
Converting a Word doc to a PDF is a simple process, no matter what version of Microsoft Word you’re using. The steps may vary slightly depending on your version, so we’ll show you how to do it in both Word 2016 and Word Online.
Word 2016
To convert a Word doc to a PDF in Word 2016, open the document you want to convert. Then, click “File” in the menu bar, then select “Export” and “Create PDF/XPS Document”. In the “Publish As” window, select “PDF” from the drop-down menu, name your document, and click “Publish”. That’s it! You’ve successfully converted your Word doc to a PDF.
Word Online
If you’re using Word Online, open the document you want to convert and click the “File” tab. Select “Export” and “Create PDF/XPS”, then “Create PDF/XPS” again in the window that appears. A Save As window will appear, and you can select “PDF” from the drop-down menu, name your document, and click “Save”. And that’s it! Your Word doc has been converted to a PDF.
Advantages of Using PDFs
There are several advantages to using PDFs, especially when you need to share documents. For starters, PDFs maintain their formatting no matter where they’re opened, which makes them great for documents that need to look the same on different devices. PDFs are also smaller in file size than other document types, which makes them easier to send over email and share online. Plus, PDFs can be password protected, encrypted, and digitally signed, which makes them great for storing sensitive information.
When to Use Word Docs and PDFs
Word docs are great for creating documents and making edits, but it’s best to save them as PDFs when you’re ready to share them. That way, you can ensure that the formatting will stay the same no matter where the document is opened. However, if you need to make edits to a PDF, you’ll need to convert it back to a Word doc, which is also easy to do.
Conclusion
Converting a Word doc to a PDF is a simple process and can be done in just a few steps. PDFs are great for sharing documents because they maintain their formatting no matter where they are opened, and they are smaller in file size than other document types. So the next time you need to share a document, make sure to convert it to a PDF first!