Actually, there are better reasons for a roundup of Gmail beginner tips than the flipping over the Gregorian calendar. First, it’s not yet the largest email service (take a bow, Yahoo), though Gmail’s growth in total users and market share has been rapid. Second, Gmail.com went through a major redesign in November, with several familiar buttons and links moved, obscured or renamed. And third, a quick glance at popular search queries about Gmail shows that a lot of you have questions you might be too embarrassed to ask in public.

Shelter thyself no more, my friends! We’re dishing out some Gmail basics that every user, new or seasoned, toddler or centenarian, should know. There should never be any shame in asking for technology help. As both a former student and teacher, I know that’s no way to learn. If you have any tech-related questions about anything — anything! — drop me a line at captaingadget@huffingtonpost.com.

And now, without further ado, here are nine very basic answers about common Gmail questions, mined from things you and yours are searching on the Googlewebs.

1. How do you log out of gmail?

t the top right corner of your Gmail, on the black bar, you’ll see your email address (“youremailaddress@gmail.com”). Click on that to bring down a drop-down menu; click Sign Out in the lower left-hand corner of the white box.

2. How do you change your Gmail password?

At the top right corner of your Gmail, click on your email address, bringing down that same white drop-down menu. Click on Account Settings. Under the section labeled “Security,” click “Change Password.” You’ll need to know your current password in order to choose a new one

3. How do you print out an email in Gmail?

Open up the email you want to print. Next to the “Reply” button, click the down arrow. Your fourth option should be “Print.” Click “Print” and you should be taken to a screen that will fire up your (presumably connected) printer. Print.

4. How do I create a signature in Gmail?

To change your signature: Click the little gear icon in the upper righthand corner of your Gmail. Click on “Mail Settings.” Scroll down until you see the section to change your signature. After you enter your signature, remember to save your changes at the bottom of the page.

5. How do you send a text message from Gmail?

First, you need to enable the “SMS (Text Messaging) in Chat” feature in Google Labs. Click on the gear icon in the upper righthand corner, then click Labs. Find the lab called “SMS (text messaging) in Chat” and change your selection to Enable. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Save Changes.”

Now go back to your Inbox. To send a text message, position your mouse over the person you want to text. A little white box pops up; click on the button that says More (or Video & More, depending on whether they have video chat turned on), and then click on Send SMS. You’ll probably need to enter a cell phone number for your friend, and then you’ll be ready to text.

You get 50 free texting credits initially: Each text you send takes away one credit, and each text you receive (in your Gchat window) replenishes five credits up to a maximum of 50. Google has a good explanation of how the SMS Credit system works here, and a clear description of how texting in Gmail works here.

One final caution before you start sending out thousands of texts: Standard charges apply to your friends receiving your messages. You may not be paying to send, but they still do to receive.

6. How do you make a phone call from Gmail?

On your Gchat list, your first “buddy” is always “Call Phone.” If you click that, you get a dial pad, from which you can make phone calls to any landline or cell phone for free. Again, it’s not free for the recipient, but go ahead and be a little selfish: You’re not eating up your own mobile minutes when you make a call from Gmail.

7. Where is the Google Calendar in the new Gmail?

To access and edit your Gcal from Gmail: At the bottom lefthand corner, click on the three little dots right next to the chat bubble icon. This should flip to your calendar where your chat list used to be. You can add, delete and edit events, or open the full-fledged website straight from this little widget.

8. How do you read two Gmail accounts at once?

When you log in to your first Gmail account, click on your email address in the upper righthand corner to open up that white box from Tip 1. In the bottom right of that box, click “Switch Account.” Then click “Sign Into Another Account…” This will not sign you out of your first Gmail account; rather, it will open up a new tab or window and allow you to sign in to a different account and use both Gmail accounts simultaneously, in two separate tabs or windows.

9. How do you make a group in Gmail?

1. Click on “Mail” on the upper left side of Gmail; this should bring up a drop-down menu with Mail, Contacts and Tasks.
2. Click Contacts.
3. On the left sidebar, beneath My Contacts, click “New Group…” to form a New Group. If you already have a lot Groups/Circles, or you’re in a larger viewing window, you may have to hover your mouse over that sidebar to make your chat window disappear.
4. Add a New Group, naming it whatever you please (“Family Members,” “Ex-Lovers,” whatever).
5. Click on that group in the left sidebar. You should see a blank screen, since no one is in the group yet. To add someone, click the “Add People” button, which has the torso and head of a human on it.
6. Add your family members, ex-lovers, whatever.
7. Now, when you’re writing an email to your ex-lovers, you can just type the word “Ex-Lovers” and all of their email addresses will pop up. Shortcut unlocked!