How to use WordPress 5.0 new building blocks editor

Welcome to the new WordPress 5.0.xx. Today I have just installed it on my blog here at jilaxzone.com. This post is my first article that is written using the new WordPress 5.0 editor, called Guttenberg. Unlike the previous now-called Classic editor, the new editor is based on building blocks. Every item on an article is made out of blocks: title, heading, paragraph, image, and many others. This writing is made using a paragraph block. This block (paragraph) and the title block are automatically created for you when you create a new blog post.

While there are plenty of new features introduced on the new WordPress 5.0 editor, but here I’ll show you 7 most important settings for the new WordPress 5.0 Guttenberg editor so that you can maximize and take full advantage when writing a new blog post for your website.

1) How to add a new building block and remove unwanted block

To add a new block to add, say – image, or another paragraph, you can do it easily on the new editor simply by pressing the “+” icon located on top left side on the editor, then choose the block that you want accordingly.

Below is sample how to add new block for posting image.  

WordPress 5.0 Editor - Adding block to the editor easily by pressing the "+" icon
WordPress 5.0 Editor – Adding block to the editor easily by pressing the “+” icon

There are alternatives you can do to add more block to your post on WordPress 5.0 editor. The image below is showing you how you can do that.

WordPress 5.0 Editor - Alternative ways to add more building blocks to your post.
WordPress 5.0 Editor – Alternative ways to add more building blocks to your post.

Another alternative is to click the “+” icon in between blocks – in case you need to add something in between the blocks. See below figure for more details.

WordPress 5.0 Editor - Another way to add a new building block to a post.
WordPress 5.0 Editor – Another way to add a new building block to a post.

To remove a block, you can simply tap on the block you want to remove, then on top of the editor find the “three dots” icon and click on it. Choose “Remove block” to remove the unwanted block.

WordPress 5.0 Editor - Remove unwanted block by click on the three dots icon then Remove block.
WordPress 5.0 Editor – Remove unwanted block by click on the three dots icon then Remove block.

2) How to make the first letter large on a new paragraph

The new WordPress 5.0 editor enables one of the most sought feature of an editor – make the first letter large on a new paragraph – like below.

On the right hand side of the editor, choose “Block”, then go and find “Drop Cap” and turn it ON to make the first letter become larger like what you see below.

WordPress 5.0 Editor - Enable Drop Cap on a paragraph
WordPress 5.0 Editor – Enable Drop Cap on a paragraph

3) How to change author easily on the new WordPress 5.0 building block editor

On the right hand side on the editor, click on “Document” then go and find “Author”. If you got the correct permission, you can select and switch the author to publish the blog post under the chosen author. See below image for details.

WordPress 5.0 Editor - Under Document, go and find Author to change the author of the post easily.
WordPress 5.0 Editor – Under Document, go and find Author to change the author of the post easily.

4) How to add post summary (excerpt) that appear on Google Search

The new WordPress 5.0 editor also includes the capability to add excerpt (aka post summary) easily to the blog post. This feature previously hidden on desktop but not on mobile version of WordPress. To bring more traffics to your post, make sure to fill in the summary of your post on the excerpt section found on under “Document” and “Excerpt”.

WordPress 5.0 Editor - Add Excerpt aka Post summary easily on the new editor. Go to Document then find Excerpt.
WordPress 5.0 Editor – Add Excerpt aka Post summary easily on the new editor. Go to Document then find Excerpt.

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5) How to find post statistics and document outline easily

Sometimes you need to see the statistics of your article/blog post for whatever reasons. Luckily, on the new WordPress 5.0 editor, the statistics including document outline can be found easily by just clicking on the “(i)” icon located on top of the editor. Image below is showing you how to show the statistics.

WordPress 5.0 Editor - Know your post statistics and document outline easily just by clicking on the "i" button.
WordPress 5.0 Editor – Know your post statistics and document outline easily just by clicking on the “i” button.

6) How to change background and text color easily on the  new WordPress 5.0 building blocks editor

This section is making use of the new features of WordPress 5.0 building blocks editor – changing colors – both background and text. By default, the color configuration is white background on black text. Now this setting can be easily changed by heading to the “Block” section then expand “Color Settings”, choose any color for background color and the color for Text color. I’m using black background color with white text now for this paragraph block.

The good thing is that, the color settings are affecting only on the selected blocks.

WordPress 5.0 Editor - Change text color and background color easily on each building blocks.
WordPress 5.0 Editor – Change text color and background color easily on each building blocks.

7) Stick post to the front page

On the previous version, there’s no way to stick a blog post on the front page without doing some customization. With the new WordPress 5.0 editor, sticking an article on the front page is super easy. All you need to do is just go to the right side of the editor, under “Document”, go and find “Stick to the Front Page” and it will do the job for you. Your article will be shown and made sticky on the front page.

WordPress 5.0 Editor - Make article sticky on the front page
WordPress 5.0 Editor – Make article sticky on the front page

Bring it all together

So far what I feel everything great after installing the new WordPress 5.0 and use the new Guttenberg editor. Whatever I previously did a few steps or not possible on the old editor, now with the new editor they are super easy to be done.

So if you haven’t installed the new WordPress 5.0.xx on your WordPress websites and blog, I do recommend to do so ASAP. Do let me know if you have comments or queries related to the new WordPress 5.0 editor. I’ll gladly help to answer. Cheers!


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4 thoughts on “How to use WordPress 5.0 new building blocks editor

  • December 17, 2018 at 6:25 am
    Permalink

    Having a challenge with adding images inline with the ability to add links to them with the new blocks and I want to center them. We are using images as buttons to navigate our site. For now I have settled for adding them vertically. Is there a way within the new block structure that works? I tried aligning left but then the right side fills in with what ever is below…clunky. Help?

    Reply
    • December 20, 2018 at 6:29 am
      Permalink

      Hi Eric,

      Similar issues here. Haha. I guess for now, if you can’t really find the workaround, use “Classic” block to overcome it. FYI, you don’t need to enable Classic editor. Just choose “Classic” block then boom! You get the old classic WordPress editor inside the new building block editor.

      Reply
  • December 23, 2018 at 4:29 am
    Permalink

    Thanks for your review! I like most of the features of the new WP, but curious if there is a way to choose a different color for links. I like for my internal links to stand out in blue, and so far haven’t figured a way to make the new color stick. The moment you hit Preview, it goes back to default.

    Reply

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