ways to reduce file size in MS Word

Compress pictures: Compressing pictures can discard extra information — such as cropped areas — from the file, reduce image resolution, and where possible, make the graphics file format more efficient.

Turn off fast saves: Using fast saves to save a document requires more disk space while your document is open than using a full save. You may be able to save disk space by clearing the Allow fast saves option.

Embed only the TrueType font: Embedding TrueType fonts in a document increases its size. If you embed TrueType fonts, you may be able to reduce document size by selecting the Embed characters in use only option. This option embeds only the font styles used in your document. Also, if you used 32 or fewer characters of a font — for example, a few symbols or a headline — Microsoft Word embeds only those characters.

Delete versions: Creating multiple versions of a document using the Versioning feature may increase file size. To check whether a document contains other versions, click Versions on the File menu. If other versions exist, you may be able to reduce the file size by deleting the oldest versions.

Convert embedded objects into graphics: Adding embdded objects [embedded object: Information (object) that is contained in a source file and inserted into a destination file. Once embedded, the object becomes part of the destination file. Changes you make to the embedded object are reflected in the destination file.] to a document can increase its size. If you don't need to update an embedded object contained in a document, you may be able to reduce the file size of that document by converting the embedded object to a graphic. After converting the object, you can edit it just as you would edit any other Word graphic. After an embedded object is converted to a graphic, it can't be changed back to an embedded object.

Link graphics: Use a linked object [linked object: An object that is created in a source file and inserted into a destination file, while maintaining a connection between the two files. The linked object in the destination file can be updated when the source file is updated.] instead of an embedded object. With a linked object, you can easily update information in your Word document when the information is changed in the source file [source file: The file that contains information that was used to create a linked or embedded object. When you update the information in the source file, you can also update the linked object in the destination file.]. Linked data is stored in the source file. The destination file [destination file: The file that a linked or embedded object is inserted into. The source file contains the information used to create the object. When you change information in a destination file, the information is not updated in the source file.] stores only the location of the source file but still displays the linked data.