--- title: Larilyn's Tip of the Week:  Microsoft Word - Let Word Do the Math description: How to use the built-in calculation function command in Microsoft Word. image: https://www.inmotionnet.com/hubfs/pexels-artempodrez-6779714.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/larilyns-tip-of-the-week-microsoft-word-let-word-do-the-math#main-content) [Contact us](https://www.inmotionnet.com/contact) ![](https://www.inmotionnet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/InMotionLogoNEW_RGB%20copy.png?width=600&height=350&name=InMotionLogoNEW_RGB%20copy.png) - [Home](https://www.inmotionnet.com/) - [Contact](https://www.inmotionnet.com/contact) - Client Tools Show submenu for Client Tools - [Client Portal](https://na.myconnectwise.net/v4_6_release/services/system_io/CustomerPortal/Portal.html?company=inmotionnets) - [Payment Portal](https://inmtn.connectboosterportal.com/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://www.inmotionnet.com/) - [Contact](https://www.inmotionnet.com/contact) - Client Tools Show submenu for Client Tools - [Client Portal](https://na.myconnectwise.net/v4_6_release/services/system_io/CustomerPortal/Portal.html?company=inmotionnets) - [Payment Portal](https://inmtn.connectboosterportal.com/) - [Contact us](https://www.inmotionnet.com/contact) Sep 11, 2025, 4:30:00 AM # Larilyn's Tip of the Week:  Microsoft Word - Let Word Do the Math [Larilyn Holt](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/author/larilyn-holt) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/larilyns-tip-of-the-week-microsoft-word-let-word-do-the-math) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/larilyns-tip-of-the-week-microsoft-word-let-word-do-the-math) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/larilyns-tip-of-the-week-microsoft-word-let-word-do-the-math) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/larilyns-tip-of-the-week-microsoft-word-let-word-do-the-math) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/larilyns-tip-of-the-week-microsoft-word-let-word-do-the-math) Most people know that Excel is great for putting in a lot of data and numbers, and using the sum tool to get things quickly calculated. ![pexels-artempodrez-6779714](https://www.inmotionnet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/pexels-artempodrez-6779714.jpg?width=401&height=267&name=pexels-artempodrez-6779714.jpg) However, what if you're using Word and you come across a formula or calculation....and you are like my mother-in-law and "don't do numbers"?  Do you bust out a calculator and figure it out?  What if you don't remember the proper order of operations, and the sum you get seems rather out of line with what you figure the number should be? Don't rely on your own math skills!!  Did you know that Word has a built-in calculating tool?? The first step to use it is to add it to your Quick Access toolbar.  You will do this in Word by clicking on File, and then selecting Options.  In the dialogue box that pops up, you want to make sure on the left you have chosen Quick Access Toolbar.  Then, in the drop-down for Choose commands from: you want to select All Commands.  Scroll down until you find Tools Calculate \[Calculate\].  Highlight it, then click Add in the middle.  Then click OK. ![steps](https://www.inmotionnet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/steps.jpg?width=841&height=685&name=steps.jpg) Then, when you have a formula, it is simple to use.  You can see here that I have a formula.  And you can see a grayed-out function up in the Quick Access bar. ![grayed out](https://www.inmotionnet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/grayed%20out.jpg?width=705&height=366&name=grayed%20out.jpg) Well, once I highlight the calculation, that tool becomes active.   ![active](https://www.inmotionnet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/active.jpg?width=618&height=388&name=active.jpg) So with my formula highlighted, I click on the activated calculation button, and then on the bottom left of the status bar - I see my results! ![result](https://www.inmotionnet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/result.jpg?width=442&height=208&name=result.jpg) And I can go forward in my document, knowing the proper result of the calculation! Happy calculating! [Microsoft 365](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/microsoft-365), [Microsoft Word](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/microsoft-word), [BusinessApps](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/businessapps), [Efficiency](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/efficiency) ## Related posts [![](https://www.inmotionnet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/pexels-rdne-7821462.jpg?height=200&name=pexels-rdne-7821462.jpg)](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/larilyns-tip-of-the-week-microsoft-word-create-forms) [Microsoft 365](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/microsoft-365), [Microsoft Word](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/microsoft-word), [MicrosoftForms](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/microsoftforms) ## [Larilyn's Tip of the Week: Microsoft Word - Create Forms](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/larilyns-tip-of-the-week-microsoft-word-create-forms) [Larilyn Holt](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/author/larilyn-holt) Dec 5, 2024, 4:30:00 AM Do you ever have the need to create a form for co-workers or clients to fill out? [Read more](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/larilyns-tip-of-the-week-microsoft-word-create-forms) [![](https://www.inmotionnet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/group-project-group-projects-be-like.gif?height=200&name=group-project-group-projects-be-like.gif)](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/larilyns-tip-of-the-week-tracking-changes) [Microsoft 365](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/microsoft-365), [Microsoft Word](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/microsoft-word) ## [Larilyn's Tip of the Week: Microsoft Word - Tracking Changes](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/larilyns-tip-of-the-week-tracking-changes) [Larilyn Holt](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/author/larilyn-holt) Feb 4, 2023, 12:38:36 PM Do you guys remember being in school and having to work on a group project? [Read more](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/larilyns-tip-of-the-week-tracking-changes) [![](https://www.inmotionnet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Orange%20Save%20Your%20Time%20Button%20on%20Computer%20Keyboard.%20Business%20Concept..jpeg?height=200&name=Orange%20Save%20Your%20Time%20Button%20on%20Computer%20Keyboard.%20Business%20Concept..jpeg)](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/larilyns-tip-of-the-week-microsoft-word-creating-a-template) [Microsoft 365](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/microsoft-365), [Microsoft Word](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/microsoft-word), [BusinessApps](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/businessapps), [Efficiency](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/tag/efficiency) ## [Larilyn's Tip of the Week: Microsoft Word - Creating a Template](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/larilyns-tip-of-the-week-microsoft-word-creating-a-template) [Larilyn Holt](https://www.inmotionnet.com/blog/author/larilyn-holt) Jul 17, 2025, 4:30:00 AM Today, I’m bringing you a tip for a quick trick in Microsoft Word that can save you bundles of time. 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