Introduction
Video: Breaks
Optional: Download our practice document.
To insert a page break:
Page breaks allow you to move text to the next page before reaching the end of a page. You might use a page break if you're writing a paper that has a title page or a bibliography to ensure it starts on a new page. In our example, our chart is split between two pages. We'll add a page break so the chart will be all on one page.- Place the insertion point where you want to create the break. In our example, we'll place it at the beginning of our chart.
- On the Insert tab, click the Page Break command. Alternatively, you can press Ctrl+Enter on your keyboard.
- The page break will be applied to the document, and the text will
move to the next page. In our example, the chart moved to the next page.
By default, breaks are hidden. If you want to show the breaks in your document, click the Show/Hide command.
Section breaks
Section breaks create a barrier between parts of a document, allowing you to format each section independently. For example, you may want one section to have two columns without adding columns to the entire document. Word offers several types of section breaks:
- Next Page: This option adds a section break and moves text after the break to the next page of the document. This is useful for creating a new page with normal formatting after a page that contains column formatting.
- Continuous: This option inserts a section break and
allows you to continue working on the same page. This type of break is
useful when you need to separate a paragraph from columns.
- Even Page and Odd Page: These options add a section break and move the text after the break to the next even or odd page. These options may be useful when you need to begin a new section on an even or odd page (for example, a new chapter of a book).
To insert a section break:
In our example, we'll add a section break to separate a paragraph from a two-column list. This will allow us to change the formatting of the paragraph so it no longer appears formatted as a column.- Place the insertion point where you want to create
the break. In our example, we'll place it at the beginning of the
paragraph we want to separate from column formatting.
- On the Page Layout tab, click the Breaks command, then select the desired section break from the drop-down menu that appears. In our example, we'll select Continuous so our paragraph remains on the same page as the columns.
- A section break will appear in the document.
- The text before and after the
section break can now be formatted separately. Apply the formatting
options you want. In our example, we'll apply one-column formatting to
the paragraph so it is no longer formatted as columns.
- The text will be formatted in the document.
Other types of breaks
When you want to format the appearance of columns or modify text wrapping around an image, Word offers additional break options that can help.
- Column: When creating multiple columns, you can
apply a column break to balance the appearance of the columns. Any text
following the column break will begin in the next column. To learn more
about how to create columns in your document, visit our lesson on Columns.
- Text wrapping: When text has been wrapped around an
image or object, you can use a text-wrapping break to end the wrapping
and begin typing on the line below the image.
To delete a break:
By default, breaks are hidden. If you want to delete a break, you'll first need to show the breaks in your document.- On the Home tab, click the Show/Hide command.
- Locate the break you want to delete. Place the insertion point at the beginning of the break you want to delete.
- Press the Delete key. The break will be deleted from the document.
