Working with Columns Word 2010

Introduction

Lesson 11
Columns are used in many types of documents, but they are most commonly used in newspapers, magazines, academic journals, and newsletters. In this lesson, you will learn how to insert columns into a document and create column breaks.

Inserting columns

Video: Working with Columns in Word 2010

Launch video!
Columns and column breaks can improve your document's organization and increase its readability. They also allow you to utilize all of the available space on the page.
Optional: You can download this example for extra practice.

To add columns to a document:

  1. Select the text you want to format.
  2. Click the Page Layout tab.
  3. Click the Columns command. A drop-down menu will appear.Adding columns in Microsoft Word 2010
  4. Select the number of columns you want to insert. The text will then format into columns.
If you want to remove the columns, click the Columns command and select One for the number of columns.

Adding column breaks

Once you've created columns, the text will automatically flow from one column to the next. Sometimes, though, you might want to control exactly where each column begins. You can do this by creating column breaks.

To add column breaks:

  1. Place the insertion point where you want to add the break.
  2. Click the Page Layout tab.
  3. Click the Breaks command in the Page Setup group. A drop-down menu will appear.
  4. Select Column from the list of break types.
    Adding a column break
  5. The text will shift to reflect the column break.
    Columns after adding a column break



Related : Working with Columns Word 2010

  • Working with Tables Word 2010 Introduction A table is a grid of cells arranged in rows and columns. Tables can be customized and are useful for various tasks such as presenting text information an ...
  • SmartArt Graphics Word 2010 Introduction SmartArt allows you to visually communicate information rather than simply using text. Illustrations can enhance your document, and SmartArt makes usi ...
  • Reviewing Documents Word 2010 Introduction Let's say someone asks you to proofread a report. If you have a hard copy of the report, you might use a red pen to cross out sentences, mark misspelli ...
  • Printing Word 2010 Introduction Once you've completed your document, you may want to print it. This lesson covers the tasks in the Print pane, along with the Quick Print feature. ...
  • Modifying Page Layout Word 2010 Introduction You may find that the default page layout settings in Word are not sufficient for the document you want to create, in which case you will want to modif ...