Option 1: Paste pre-written text

  1. Write and edit your text in your preferred word processing software
  2. Review Writing for the Web I - Tips to optimize your text for the web
  3. Copy your text
  4. Open your webpage in OU Campus and place your cursor where you want the text to appear
  5. On your keyboard, type CNTL+SHIFT+V (Windows) or COMMAND+SHIFT+V (Mac) to paste your text without formatting. Paste Without Formatting is the preferred text import method because you do not have to remove any formatting brought in by your word processing software after the fact.

    If you do a regular copy and paste, the formatting is maintained from the word processor and you could get weird spacing, incorrectly displayed fonts, etc.
  6. Now that the plain text is on the page, go through and format the text as you would like it to appear.
  7. Save your progress with the Save & Exit button on your toolbar. Publish the page if you are ready for your page edits to be live on your website.

Option 2: Write text in the editor

  1. Type your content directly into the editor, formatting as you go.
  2. Since you will be typing straight into the editor, use the Spellcheck button in the editor toolbar to check for spelling errors prior to saving your work.
  3. Review Writing for the Web I - Tips to optimize your text for the web
  4. Save your progress with the Save & Exit button on your toolbar. Publish the page if you are ready for your page edits to be live on your website.


Notes:

  1. Formatting Options:
    1. Headers (see How to add or edit page headings to learn how to insert and properly nest headers)
    2. Bulleted Lists
    3. Numbered Lists
    4. Indented Text
    5. Block Quotes
    6. Links (see How to add or edit a link for instructions for inserting a link into a webpage)
    7. Styles Dropdown Menu (see How to use the Styles dropdown menu to see all formatting options)
  2. Hard Returns vs Soft Returns

    Hard Return: hit ENTER to perform a Hard Return. This creates a new paragraph element and will drop the cursor down two lines. Hard returns are the preferred way to break up text and other elements on the page. Hard Returns tell OU Campus that the elements following the hard return are separate from the previous element and can be formatted in a different style.

    Soft Return: hit SHIFT+ENTER to perform a Soft Return. This drops the cursor down one line. Soft Returns are useful in listing items such as Name followed by Title where you want them to appear on two separate lines, but be a part of the same style element. The Soft Return is also known as a Line Break and is represented by <br /> in HTML. Elements separated by Soft Returns will be formatted the same upon selection because OU Campus thinks all the lines are a part of the same element.