How do you change text in WordPress?

To change text in WordPress, you typically navigate to your dashboard, select the post or page you wish to modify, open it in the editor, and then make your desired textual adjustments before saving.

WordPress offers a straightforward way to update content on your website, whether it's an article, a static page, or other site elements. The primary method involves using the built-in editor, which can be either the Classic Editor or the newer Block Editor (Gutenberg).

Changing Text in WordPress Posts and Pages

The core of your website's textual content resides within posts and pages. The process to edit this content is similar for both.

Using the Classic Editor

For websites still utilizing the Classic Editor plugin or older WordPress installations, the editing experience is reminiscent of a traditional word processor.

Access Your Dashboard: Begin by logging into your WordPress admin area, often referred to as the dashboard.
Navigate to Content: From the left-hand menu, click on 'Posts' if you want to edit a blog post, or 'Pages' if you want to modify a static page.
Select Item to Edit: A list of your existing posts or pages will appear. Hover your mouse over the title of the specific post or page you wish to change.
Click 'Edit': An 'Edit' link will appear beneath the title. Click this link to open the content in the editor.
Make Your Edits: You'll be presented with the Classic Editor interface, where your text is laid out. You can now:
- Type Directly: Simply click into the main content area and type to add new text, delete existing text, or modify paragraphs.
- Format Text: Use the toolbar buttons (similar to Microsoft Word) to apply formatting such as bold, italics, bullet points, numbered lists, and hyperlinks.
- Review and Save: After making your changes, always proofread your work. To save your updates and make them live on your website, click the blue 'Update' button located in the 'Publish' box on the right side of the screen.

Using the Block Editor (Gutenberg)

Most modern WordPress installations use the Block Editor, also known as Gutenberg, which introduces a modular, block-based approach to content creation.

Access and Select: Follow steps 1-4 from the Classic Editor section to reach your chosen post or page. Instead of the Classic Editor, you will open the Block Editor.
Identify Blocks: In the Block Editor, all content – paragraphs, headings, images, lists – is organized into individual "blocks."
Edit Text Within Blocks:
- To edit existing text, simply click directly on the paragraph or heading block you wish to modify.
- The text will become editable, and a contextual toolbar will appear above or near the block, offering formatting options (e.g., bold, italic, link, alignment).
- To add new text, you can click the + icon to add a new block, then select a 'Paragraph' or 'Heading' block and start typing.
Save Your Changes: Once your edits are complete, click the blue 'Update' button in the top right corner of the editor to publish your changes.

Editing Other Text Elements in WordPress

Text in WordPress isn't confined solely to posts and pages. You might need to change text in other areas of your site.

Widgets

Widgets are small blocks of content that perform a specific function and are often placed in sidebars, footers, or other widget-ready areas.

Location: Navigate to Appearance > Widgets from your dashboard.
How to Edit: Find the widget you want to modify (e.g., a "Text" widget, "Custom HTML" widget). Click on the widget to expand it and edit the text within its designated field. Save changes by clicking the 'Update' or 'Save' button for that widget.

Site Title and Tagline

These are fundamental pieces of text that represent your website's identity.

Location: Go to Appearance > Customize from your dashboard.
How to Edit: In the Customizer, look for 'Site Identity'. Here, you can change your site's title and tagline, which often appear in the browser tab and search results. Click 'Publish' to save.

Navigation Menus

The text used for your navigation links is also editable.

Location: Go to Appearance > Menus from your dashboard.
How to Edit: Select the menu you wish to edit. For each menu item, click the arrow to expand it. You can change the 'Navigation Label' to modify the text that appears in your menu. Remember to click 'Save Menu'.

Best Practices for Effective Text Editing

Proofread Diligently: Before saving, always read through your changes to catch any typos, grammatical errors, or awkward phrasing.
Preview Changes: Use the 'Preview' button in the editor to see how your changes will look on the live site before committing to them.
Save Regularly: For extensive edits, save your work periodically to prevent accidental loss due to browser crashes or connectivity issues.
Consider SEO: When changing content, think about relevant keywords and how your text can be structured (using headings like H2, H3) to improve search engine visibility.
Backup Your Site: Before making significant textual changes or any major updates, it's always wise to create a full backup of your WordPress website.

Quick Reference for Text Changes

Scenario	Location in WordPress Dashboard	How to Edit
Post Content	`Posts` > `All Posts`	Hover over post, click 'Edit'. In editor, click and type to change text within blocks (Block Editor) or the main content area (Classic Editor). Click 'Update'.
Page Content	`Pages` > `All Pages`	Hover over page, click 'Edit'. In editor, click and type to change text within blocks (Block Editor) or the main content area (Classic Editor). Click 'Update'.
Widget Text	`Appearance` > `Widgets`	Expand the specific widget (e.g., 'Text' widget). Edit the text in the provided field. Click 'Update' or 'Save' for the widget.
Site Title / Tagline	`Appearance` > `Customize`	In the Customizer, navigate to 'Site Identity'. Edit the text in the 'Site Title' or 'Tagline' fields. Click 'Publish'.
Navigation Menu Items	`Appearance` > `Menus`	Select your menu. Expand the desired menu item. Change the 'Navigation Label' field to update the text. Click 'Save Menu'.