How to Add Columns in Microsoft Word: 15 Steps

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

This wikiHow teaches you how to create text fields (like columns in a newspaper or magazine) in Microsoft Word.

Step

Method 1 of 2: Using Program Default Columns (Preset)

Step 1. Open Microsoft Word

The program icon looks like a white “W” on a blue background.

If you want to edit an existing document, simply double-click the document in question

Step 2. Click Blank document

It's in the top-left corner of the template page.

If you are editing an existing document, skip this step

Step 3. Click the Layout tab

This tab is at the top of the Word window, to the right of the “ Home ”, “ Insert ", and " Design ”.

Step 4. Click Columns

This option is on the bottom and left side of the tab “ Layout Once clicked, the drop-down menu will display the following options:

• ” one ” – This is the main setting for the Word document.
• ” Two ” – This option divides the page into two separate columns.
• ” three ” – This option divides the page into three separate columns.
• ” Left ” – This option focuses the text on the right side of the document so that there is a narrow column on the left side of the page.
• ” Right ” - This option focuses the text on the left side of the document so that there is a narrow column on the right side of the page.
• If you highlight one section (or all) of the document before clicking a column option, the document will be reformatted to display in columns.

Step 5. Click column options

Once clicked, the invisible column will be applied to the document. As you type, you can see the text will jump to a new line before it reaches the regular right margin. Once you reach the bottom of the page, the text will continue in the next column until you reach the bottom of the page again, and so on.

Method 2 of 2: Creating Your Own Modified Columns

Step 1. Open Microsoft Word

The program icon looks like a white “W” on a blue background.

If you want to edit an existing document, simply double-click the document in question

Step 2. Click Blank document

It's in the top-left corner of the template page.

If you are editing an existing document, skip this step

Step 3. Click the Layout tab

This tab is at the top of the Word window, to the right of the “ Home ”, “ Insert ", and " Design ”.

Step 4. Click Columns

This option is on the bottom and left side of the tab “ Layout ”.

Step 5. Click More Columns

This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu “ Columns ”.

Step 6. Click the number of columns

You can see options like “ one ”, “ Two ”, “ three ”, and others at the top of the window. After clicking an option, the column count will be applied to the document.

If you have already marked text, the settings will be applied only to the marked text

Step 7. Change the column width and separator

You can make changes by clicking the up or down arrows to the right of the " Width " and " Spacing " entries.

You can also uncheck the " Equal column width " box to make one column wider than the other

Step 8. Mark the box next to the “Line between” option to draw a dividing line

Once marked, a dividing line will be displayed between the columns.

If you do not want to display a dividing line, uncheck this box

Step 9. Click the "Apply to" drop-down menu

After that, you can click “ Selected text " or " Whole documents ” to apply the settings to the desired amount of text.

Step 10. Click OK

The settings will be applied and the selected text will be separated per column (according to the rules you defined).