How to Add Columns in Microsoft Word

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• Using Column Presets
|
• Creating Custom Columns
|
• Q&A

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This How.com.vn teaches you how to create columns of text (similar to a newspaper or magazine) in Microsoft Word.

Quick Steps

1. Open Word and either go to an existing document or make a new one.
2. Highlight the text of your document, if you've opted to open an existing one.
3. Click the Layout tab and then click the Columns button at the top of the screen.
4. Select how many columns you'd like to add to your document.
5. Click More Columns if you want to set up custom column settings for your document.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Column Presets

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1. 
   1
   Open Microsoft Word. Its icon resembles a blue background with a white "W" on top.

   • If you'd rather edit an existing document, simply double-click the document in question.
2. 
   2
   Click Blank document. It's in the top-left corner of the templates page.

   • If you're editing an existing document, skip this step.
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3. 
   3
   Click the Layout tab. It's at the top of the Word window, to the right of the Home, Insert, and Design tabs.
4. 
   4
   Click Columns. This option is below and to the left of the Layout tab. Clicking it will prompt a drop-down menu with the following options:

   • One - Default setting for Word documents.
   • Two - Splits the page into two distinct columns.
   • Three - Splits the page into three distinct columns.
   • Left - Concentrates most of the text on the right side of the document, leaving a narrow column on the left.
   • Right - Concentrates most of the text on the left side of the document, leaving a narrow column on the right.
   • If you highlight a part (or all) of your document before clicking a column option, your document will be reformatted to appear in columns.
5. 
   5
   Click a column option. Doing so will apply invisible columns to your document; as you type, you'll notice that your text jumps to a new line before reaching the standard right-most margin. Once you reach the bottom of the page, your text will continue in the next column until you reach the bottom of the page again, and so on.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Creating Custom Columns

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1. 
   1
   Open Microsoft Word. Its icon resembles a blue background with a white "W" on top.

   • If you'd rather edit an existing document, simply double-click the document in question.
2. 
   2
   Click Blank document. It's in the top-left corner of the templates page.

   • If you're editing an existing document, skip this step.
3. 
   3
   Click the Layout tab. It's at the top of the Word window, to the right of the Home, Insert, and Design tabs.
4. 
   4
   Click Columns. You'll find this option below and to the left of the Layout tab.
5. 
   5
   Click More Columns. It's at the bottom of the Columns drop-down menu.
6. 
   6
   Click a number of columns. You'll see options like One, Two, Three, and so on at the top of this window. Clicking an option will apply it to your document.

   • If you highlighted text, your settings will be applied only to the highlighted text.
7. 
   7
   Modify the column width and separation. You can do this by clicking the up or down arrow to the right of "Width" and the "Spacing" values, respectively.

   • You can also uncheck the box next to "Equal column width" in order to make one column wider than the other.
8. 
   8
   Check the box next to "Line between" to draw a divider. Doing so will place a visible line between your columns.

   • If you don't want a visible divider, leave this option unchecked.
9. 
   9
   Click the "Apply to" drop-down menu. Doing so will allow you to click Selected text or Whole document to apply your column settings to the respective amounts of text.
10. 
    10
    Click OK. This will apply your settings and divide any selected text as per your customized column rules.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  How do I add columns to the middle of the document without changing the format of the entire document?

  

  Ps46

  Community Answer

  In Word, type the lines of text in a single column anywhere in the document. Then, select the lines of text and click the Page Layout tab. In the Page Setup options, click Columns and select the desired number of columns. Word automatically creates continuous section breaks before and after the columns. In some cases, it may be impossible to do without changing the format of the document.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If How.com.vn has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support How.com.vn

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  Not Helpful 5Helpful 9
• Question

  How do I rotate a page in Word?

  

  Community Answer

  Select the pages or paragraphs whose orientation you want to change. Click Page Layout > Page Setup Dialog Box Launcher. In the Page Setup box, under Orientation, click Portrait or Landscape. Click the Apply to box and click Selected text.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If How.com.vn has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support How.com.vn

  YesNo

  Not Helpful 5Helpful 2

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