Filling out forms can be challenging, especially if you have handwriting difficulties. Thankfully, the world is embracing digital formats. We are seeing a decline in paper worksheets and quizzes in schools and a decline in paper intake forms at medical offices and other places of business.
Everyone has access to both Microsoft Forms and Google Forms for free. Therefore, anyone can easily create fillable forms. Use your free Microsoft account or free Google account to get started.
Tip: If you are given a paper form or worksheet, you can change it to an electronic fillable form using a smartphone or tablet. Just take a photo of the form and have it converted into a type-able form using an app with optical character recognition (OCR) technology. Check out the recommended apps in the Resources section at the end of this article.
Microsoft Forms
- Once you are logged into Microsoft 365, click on the Apps icon (waffle icon) in the top left corner. Click the words “All apps.” Select Forms.
- Select New Form at the top.
- To name the document, click on the word Untitled Form and type a title.
- Click the Add New button.
- Choose the type of question and answer field. For example, select Text.
- Then, type the question in the Question Field and enable Long Answer or Required, if desired.
- Click the Add New button to continue to add questions.
Learn more about creating and sending forms, plus, collecting responses on the Microsoft Support page: Office Quick Start – Forms
Go to the general Office Quick Start page for Downloadable Guides and links to Cheat Sheets and Microsoft 365 Training.
Google Forms
- Once you are logged into Google, click on the Apps icon (waffle icon) next to your profile picture and and select Forms.
- Select Blank from the top section of the page.
- Click on the word Untitled Form in the top bar. Type a file name in the field.
- In the first box, type your question.
- Select the response type from the drop down next to the question.
- Add answer choices, if desired.
- To add another question, click the Plus Sign in the toolbar next to the box.
Learn more about creating and sending forms, plus, collecting responses in the Google Help article: Google Forms training and help
Additional handwriting alternatives and handwriting help
- Type in a word processing application using a standard keyboard or an alternative keyboard or mouse alternative
- Write with a stylus on a touchscreen (less pressure required than pen/pencil)
- Use a dictation feature to record spoken words as text
- Audio record or video record oral responses
Resources
These resources are provided simply to create awareness about additional options It is a curated list of apps or web browser extensions in alphabetical order.
Optical character recognition (OCR) and form filling apps
Adobe Fill & Sign Mobile – Use this app with a smartphone or tablet. Take a photo of a form and convert it into a type-able document. Type into the text fields. Send the completed form by email or print or save. Free.
SnapType – Smartphone or tablet app where you can take a photo of a worksheet or form and have it converted into a type-able document. You can save the forms in folders and send the form to a person by email or send to a printer or save in a cloud drive. Free version stores a limited number of forms.
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