What Is Word Processing?

Word processing is the process of using a device or software to create, store, and print text documents. As such, you can write and modify text, display it on a screen, save it electronically, and print it out.

Read More about Word Processing

The process is one of the most used worldwide to create resumes and cover letters, business correspondence, blog posts, and novels, to name a few. Learn more about it here.

The Origins of Word Processing

The process was born out of writers’ need to automate the physical aspects of writing and editing. And its refinement owes its origins to improving individuals’ lives and meeting organizations’ business requirements.

Enter Printing and Movable Type

It all began with the invention of printing and movable type at the end of the Middle Ages. But the actual first shift from manual writing occurred when Christopher Latham Sholes and two of his colleagues invented the first successful manual typewriter in 1867. Their invention was marketed commercially in 1874 by gun manufacturing company E. Remington and Sons.

The Birth of the Typewriter

Over time, various improvements were made to the first typewriter until companies began using it. Portable typewriters were thus marketed in the early 1900s.

In 1872, Thomas Edison patented an electric typewriter, although its first working model was not introduced until the 1920s. In the 1930s, IBM introduced a more refined version, the IBM Electromatic. M. Shultz Company then introduced the automatic or repetitive typewriter—the biggest step from the typewriter to modern word processing.

Word Processing as We Know It Today

By 1961, IBM introduced the Selectric typewriter. In 1964, the company introduced the Magnetic Tape/Selectric Typewriter (MT/ST). This development marked the beginning of word processing as we know it. The company could also be credited for using the term “word processing” for the first time to market the MT/ST as a “word-processing” machine.

The introduction of several technologies from 1969 onward continued to improve the process. These technologies include MagCards, video display screens, tape cassettes for storage, floppy disks, software on disks, spelling check and mailing list programs, bookkeeping and inventory functions, and more.

WordStar by Micropro International emerged as the first industry standard in word-processing software. Traditionally, word processors were computer applications downloaded to a computer. Since the introduction and widespread use of cloud computing, however, we now have browser-based word processors that offer more flexibility and the ability to collaborate in real-time.

What Are the Types of Word Processing?

Since the process requires using a word processor, its types depend on the programs users will utilize—mechanical, electronic, and software-enabled.

But what is a word processor? It is the actual device or software capable of creating, storing, and printing text documents.

Mechanical

This type uses mechanical systems like typewriters and typesetters to change where letters appear on a page, fill in spaces left on a page, or skip over lines.

Electronic

This type came about with the development of MT/ST. It automates word wrapping, allows text rewriting, using screen displays, saving on disks, and more.

Software-Enabled

This type is what we know now today, which came about in the late 1970s (i.e., when personal computers [PCs} were introduced) to the 1980s (i.e., when the first word-processing software was created), where users have the option to choose the program that best suits their purposes. Today, you can even choose between installing a program on your computer or subscribing to a browser-based application.

What Are the Uses of Word Processing?

As the brief history of the process above shows, throughout time, word processors have improved to enable various activities we listed below.

1. It lets users manipulate text.

Like its predecessor—the typewriter—any word processor lets users manipulate text within a document. As such, they can insert, cut and paste, and copy text. More advanced programs enable word wrapping that lets you automatically move to the next line once the current one is filled with text.

2. It lets users choose different fonts and styles.

All word processors pretty much let users change fonts within a document. They enable you to bold, italicize, and underline text and change font sizes. Each font can come with different typefaces, helping you create documents that are more uniform and easier to read than handwritten ones. You can also assign headings and subheadings for better readability.

3. It lets users lay pages out.

Apart from making font adjustments, users can also use word processors to change how a document is laid out. You can change page sizes, margins, and indentations. You can also add columns, create headers and footers, and number pages.

4. It lets users utilize graphics.

Even the most basic word processors allow users to add simple tables, graphs, or numbered lists. Those with more advanced capabilities offer greater options in terms of visual elements. They let you embed illustrations, complex graphs, and even videos. You can create graphics within the software or a different program for copying.

5. It lets users collaborate with others.

Browser- or cloud-based word processors make it easy for multiple users to collaborate on a single document. Word on Microsoft 365, for instance, lets you track changes, leave comments, tag and assign tasks to others, and review previous versions.

6. It lets users check for and fix spelling and grammar mistakes.

Most, if not all, word processors have spell and basic grammar checking built in. More advanced ones may even have a thesaurus function that suggests word choices. Or, in some cases, they can suggest areas you can clarify, check for plagiarism, or rate for readability.

What Are the Benefits of Word Processing?

The process provides several advantages to users, such as:

Text manipulation
Readability enhancement
Time, effort, and cost savings
Manual task reduction
Easy collaboration
Better security

Apart from having the ability to manipulate text in a document. It also enhances a document’s readability and formatting with readily available templates and spelling and grammar checks.

Since it involves using word processors, users can not only save time, effort, and money. The process reduces repetitive tasks, such as inserting headers, footers, and page numbers or formatting headings, subheadings, lists, and body text, allowing you to save time and effort.

It also lets you collaborate with others instantly or even simultaneously, reducing production time. And since you can save all your files digitally, you save on paper and printing costs. That benefits the environment as well. And if you are working on confidential information, some programs can have encryption capabilities or at least allow you to password-protect specific files.

What Are the Most Popular Word-Processing Software?

Here is a rundown of 2025’s best suites, according to PCMag. Each comes with its own word-processing software.

What is a word-processing software? It is, as you learned earlier, considered a word processor that lets users create, store, and print text documents.

Microsoft 365: Comes with Word and is noted for continuous updates.
Microsoft Office 2024: Comes with Word and is noted for being the best standalone office suite.
Google Workspace: Comes with Google Docs and is noted for having the best enterprise features and being the best for online collaboration.
Apple iWork: Comes with Pages and is noted for being the best for Apple users.
Corel WordPerfect Office: Comes with WordPerfect and is noted for its precise formatting.
SoftMaker Office: Comes with TextMaker and is noted for having the best value.
Zoho Office: Comes with Writer and is noted for having budget-friendly online apps.
LibreOffice: Comes with Writer and is noted for being the best open-source document editor.

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Word processing has come a long way and will continue to improve with technological innovations. In fact, many word processors today even have artificial intelligence (AI) checkers that tell you if a document was written by a machine. IT industry experts also believe the word-processing software market will grow to US$159.99 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%.

Key Takeaways

Word processing is the process of using a device or software to create, store, and print text documents.
The process was born out of writers’ need to automate the physical aspects of writing and editing.
It comes in three types—mechanical, electronic, and software.
It lets users manipulate text, choose different fonts and styles, lay out pages, use graphics, collaborate with others, and check for and fix spelling and grammar mistakes.
Besides helping users save time, effort, and money, it enhances environmental safety and promotes sustainability.
Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Pages, WordPerfect, TextMaker, Write, and Writer (for Zoho Office and LibreOffice) are some of the most popular word-processing software in 2025.