Hello everyone:
Welcome to my 10 tip series where each month I’ll be sharing 10 tips on various pieces of technology.
This would include tips on popular screen readers, office software, and browsers.
If you have any suggestions on what you would like me to share then by all means! Write to me at donnajodhan@sterlingcreations.ca.
For this month:
10 tips for learning about google docs
Love this question. Google Docs looks simple… until you realize it’s secretly a productivity machine. Here are 10 actually useful tips to level up fast:
1. Master Keyboard Shortcuts (This Is the Cheat Code)
Stop reaching for the mouse.
•
Ctrl/Cmd + B → Bold
•
Ctrl/Cmd + K → Insert link
•
Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + V → Paste without formatting
•
Ctrl/Cmd + Alt + 1/2/3 → Headings
Want the full list? Press Ctrl/Cmd + / inside Docs. Instant shortcut menu.
2. Use Headings Like a Pro
Headings aren’t just for looks — they structure your doc.
•
Apply Heading 1, 2, 3
•
Then use View → Show outline
Boom. You get a clickable table of contents on the left.
3. Turn on Voice Typing
If you think faster than you type:
Tools → Voice typing
You can even say:
•
“Period”
•
“New paragraph”
•
“Bold that”
It’s surprisingly accurate.
4. Use Comments Instead of Editing Directly
Perfect for group projects.
Highlight text → Click the comment icon → Leave feedback.
You can even tag someone like:
@email@example.com
They’ll get notified automatically.
5. Switch to Suggesting Mode
Top right corner → change from Editing to Suggesting
Now your changes appear like tracked edits — super useful for teamwork.
6. Use Templates (Huge Time Saver)
Instead of starting blank:
Go to the Template Gallery
You’ll find:
•
Resumes
•
Reports
•
Project proposals
•
Meeting notes
Starting structured > starting from scratch.
7. Use Explore for Quick Research
Bottom-right corner → click the ⭐ Explore icon
You can:
•
Search the web
•
Insert images
•
Cite sources automatically
It’s like mini-Google inside Google Docs.
8. Insert a Table of Contents Automatically
If you’ve used headings:
Go to Insert → Table of contents
It builds one instantly. And it updates itself.
9. Learn Smart Chips (They’re Sneaky Powerful)
Type:
•
@ and then a name → inserts contact
•
@ and then a date → inserts calendar date
•
@ and then a file name → links a Google file
It turns your doc into a connected workspace.
10. Use Version History (Your Safety Net)
Made a mistake? Someone deleted something?
Go to:
File → Version history → See version history
You can:
•
Restore older versions
•
See who edited what
•
Name important versions
It’s basically a time machine.
To contact me please send an email to donnajodhan@sterlingcreations.ca
I’m Donna J. Jodhan (sight loss coach and accessibility advisor)