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Google Docs

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Creating Google Docs

Creating docs with templates

A template is a predesigned document you can use to create docs quickly without having to think about formatting. With a template, many of the significant design decisions like margin size, font style and size, and spacing are predetermined.

Most templates are designed to help you create specific kinds of docs. For instance, you might use a template to create a resume, newsletter, or some other type of doc that you want to look a certain way.

Screenshot of Google DriveA template for an awards certificate

While there is a wide selection of templates you can use in Google Drive, few of them are well made, and they aren't very well organized within the template selector. For this reason, we recommend starting by using templates made by Google, which tend to be of higher quality than user-submitted templates.

To create a new doc from an official Google template:

  1. Navigate to Templates Submitted by Google.
    Screenshot of Google DriveTemplates submitted by Google
  2. Using one or more of the following methods, find a template you wish to use:
    • Enter a search term in the Search Templates bar.
      Screenshot of Google DriveThe Search Templates bar
    • Sort the templates.
      Screenshot of Google DriveSort options
    • Narrow the templates down by type or category.
      Screenshot of Google DriveNarrowing options
  3. When you've found a template you want to use, click Use this template. You can also click Preview to view it first.
    Screenshot of Google DriveSelecting a template to use
  4. A new doc will be created using the selected template.
    Screenshot of Google DriveViewing the opened template
  5. Customize the doc with your own information.
    Screenshot of Google DriveThe doc, customized to include the user's information
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