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Word processing software is really good at turning any writing project into a formal document. Microsoft Word has been around for quite a while and is used by people all over the world to write reports, organize notes, and put together letters, among other things.

More recently, Google Docs has entered the document creation scene and offers a lot of the same features as Word at a more attractive price — free. As long as you can connect to the internet and access your Google Drive, you can create Google Docs. As technology becomes part of our everyday lives, many find that our documents are lacking. This may leave some people wondering how to write on Google Docs with a stylus.

Why Would Anyone Need This Feature?

At first, it may seem like using a stylus to create a Google Doc is unnecessary. After all, the keyboard has been around for a long time and has done a decent job of helping with document creation.

For the most part, this is true. However, a lot of people no longer use technology to create formal documents or like how word-processed information looks. They want their information to be unique and creative. They want to engage in creating art.

Sure, if someone really wanted to change things up, they could choose a different font, but sometimes, they need to add characters to their work that is challenging to find in computer-generated language. They may also want to let their creative sideshow, and that’s when it becomes even more important to learn how to write on Google Docs with a stylus.

If you are wondering how to draw lines in Google Docs, we’ll walk you through the process. It doesn’t matter if you’re adding special characters to a report or just want to have some fun, having this knowledge can be beneficial.

Tip

The Drawing Tool is versatile and can be used for just about anything you want to handwrite — including notes for class or during a meeting. Once you’ve incorporated that information into a Google Doc, you can then print it out and have a hard copy on hand!

How to Write on Google Docs with a Stylus

When it comes to using a stylus to write in Google Docs, the first thing you need is to make sure you have a device that is compatible. Most tablets have a touch-screen feature, and then it’s just a matter of finding the right stylus. If you’re wondering how to draw on Google Docs iPad, the process is the same for any other touch device. Once you’re set up and ready to go, these are the steps you’ll follow when it comes to learning how to write on Google Docs with a stylus.

Step 1: Log in to Google Drive

When learning how to scribble on Google Docs, the first thing you’ll need to do is get into your Google Drive. You can access the site from any browser you prefer. When prompted, you’ll need to use the keyboard to type in your username and password.

Step 2: Open a New Google Doc

After gaining access to your Google Drive, you’ll want to open a new Google Doc.

Click on the “New” button in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. It has a multicolored plus sign next to it.

When the drop-down menu appears, click on the “Google Docs” option.

Step 3: Choose “Drawing”

When wondering how to write on Google Docs with a stylus, once you have your blank document in front of you, you’ll then need to click on “Drawing.”

This is found under the Insert tab on the toolbar at the top of the page.

It’s the third option on the list, and it has a dark box with a circle and a square next to the word “Drawing.”

Click on this.

Another selection menu will appear, and you’ll want to click on “New.”

on google docs click on drawing and new - how to scribble on Google Docs

Step 4: Select “Scribble”

After clicking “New,” a new window will open that says Drawing at the top. When wondering how to scribble on Google Docs, you’ll need to go to the toolbar at the top and find the line options.

Look for the icon of a slanted line with dots on the end. There will be a down arrow next to it, and you’ll want to click on that.

When the list of options appears, choose “Scribble.”

Step 5: Create Your Masterpiece

After you’ve clicked on “Scribble,” you’ll notice that your cursor changes to look like a plus sign. You now have the ability to use your stylus to create pictures, symbols, or even handwrite words.

At this point, the world is your oyster! You can create anything with your stylus that makes you happy or that needs to be added to your document. When wondering how to draw lines in Google Docs, scribbling allows you to add your own personal flair to the document.

While in the drawing window, you can make some changes to your work. At this point, they are fairly minor, but it’s another way to make sure your document is uniquely yours.

Some of the options include the following:

  • Changing the color of the lines
  • Changing the thickness of the lines
  • Changing how the lines look
  • Adding different points to the ends of the lines
look for scribble and connect your stylus - how to write on Google Docs with a stylus

When learning how to draw lines in Google Docs and make changes to them, you need to highlight the line you want to alter.

Once you’ve done that, on the toolbar at the top of the page, you will see some new options pop up. These will allow you to personalize your creation and make it look good.

Step 6: Save Your Work

Once you have finished creating whatever with your stylus, to add it to the Google Doc, you need to click the “Save and Close” button. This is found at the top of the screen on the right-hand side, and it’s big and blue.

After clicking on that, you will be directed back to your original document, and your creation will appear.

when you are done click on save and close - how to draw lines in Google Docs

Step 7: Make Edits (if necessary)

Once you have learned how to scribble on Google Docs and have placed your creation in the document, there are a few more edits you can make, if necessary.

The drawing is placed on the page as an image, so if you need to make changes to all or part of the scribble, the first thing you’ll need to do is click on any part of the image. You’ll know you’ve selected it because there will be a blue outline with small boxes at various intervals around it.

A menu bar will also appear at the bottom of the image.

If you click the “Edit” option with the pencil next to it, your creation will be opened in the Drawing window, and you’ll be able to make changes to it.

Within the Google Doc itself, some of the edits you can make include the placing of the image. You can have centered or right- or left-justified.

You can also change how it aligns with the text and have it inline, wrapping, breaking, behind or in front of the text.

This refers to how typed text would appear around your image.

Should you choose the “Wrap text” option, this will unlock other choices to ensure your document looks good. You’ll need to choose how the typed text wraps around the image and where it is positioned in your document.

You also have the ability to change the size of your image. This ensures that it is the center of attention or blends nicely in with the rest of the information on the page.

Other Input Options

In addition to learning how to scribble on Google Docs, when asking how to write on Google Docs with a stylus, there is another option that will allow you to add special characters to your documents. For this process, you’ll use Input Tools, and these are the steps you’ll follow:

Step 1: Open Your Google Drive

You can use whatever browser you want to access your Google Drive. If necessary, don’t forget to type in your username and password.

Step 2: Open a Google Doc

Once in your Google Drive, you’ll then need to access the Google Doc you want to add the drawing to or open a new document.

Step 3: Choose the Right Language

When wondering how to write on Google Docs with a stylus, once you have opened the Google Doc, click on the File tab in the toolbar at the top of the page.

When the menu appears, look for the “Language” option. It’s near the bottom of the list, about three up from the bottom.

Click on the arrow. This will bring up a list of different languages. Scroll through them until you find one with lots of curls. They can be made by a computer screen and click on that option.

Step 4: Open the Input Tool

If you’ve chosen a language that requires the Insert Tool, you will see this feature pop up at the end of the toolbar. If it doesn’t pop up automatically, you may need to click on the three dots to find it.

Should you be unable to find it after clicking on the three dots, you may have picked a language that doesn’t need the Input Tool. Go back to your list of languages and choose another option.

To use this feature when wondering how to write on Google Docs with a stylus, you need to click on the down arrow next to the characters that represent the language you chose. Look for the option that has a pencil next to it and click on that.

Step 5: Use Your Stylus to Write in Google Docs

A new window will open in your Google Doc. You’ll see a large white space that you’ll be able to write in. Use your stylus to create the characters within that space.

Step 6: Insert the Appropriate Symbols

Unlike the draw feature, when you use the Input Tool based on language, you will be able to choose from various symbols and letters to insert into your document. The program translates your squiggles into electronic text.

This is a good tool to use if you are inserting a foreign language that doesn’t translate well to a keyboard. The end result will be professional, type-written characters placed in your document where you last left your cursor.

Tip

Using the language feature in Google Docs allows you to write in the document with a stylus, but it might be limited in the types of languages you can access. Thankfully, there’s a Chrome extension you can add, which provides more features and an extended ability to input words through handwriting.

The Wonders of Technology

Since the dawn of humanity, we have been looking for ways to communicate with one another that are easy to understand. It started with pictures, then technology came along to make text easy for everyone to read, and it has advanced again to allow us to once again include pictures in our documents.

If you are wondering how to write on Google Docs with a stylus, the easiest way is to use the Drawing Tool, and these are the steps you’ll follow:

  • Step 1: Log in to Google Drive
  • Step 2: Open a New Google Doc
  • Step 3: Choose “Drawing”
  • Step 4: Select “Scribble”
  • Step 5: Create Your Masterpiece
  • Step 6: Save Your Work
  • Step 7: Make Edits (if necessary)

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