Columns in Word: 2 Easy Methods for a Perfect Layout 📄✨

Looking for ways to display text in columns within a Word document while maintaining the default layout for the rest of your work? Look no further! This guide offers two easy methods to achieve this. 📄✨

Method 1: Using Jumps

One of the main uses of section breaks in Microsoft Word is to format part of your document differently than other parts. For example, you might want to split an entire page into two or more columns, or even add a section with columns within a page. 📊

Add a Page with Columns

To add a page with columns, you need to insert "next page" section breaks. This type of break separates one page from another with a hard break that allows for unique formatting. 📑

By default, Microsoft Word pages are single-column, meaning the text flows from the left margin to the right, then continues on the next line. Let's say you want pages 1 and 3 to follow this default layout, but page 2 to have two columns. 📄➡️📄

To accomplish this, first add some placeholder text on page 1, and with your cursor at the end From that text, click “Breaks” on the Design tab and select “Next Page.”

The next page section break is selected in Microsoft Word.

This forces Microsoft Word to add a next-page section break and moves the cursor to page 2, which is where you want your two-column page to be.

Now, type some placeholder text on page 2 before clicking "Columns" and selecting "Two" (or however many columns you want to add). Since you added a section break on page 1, any formatting you apply to page 2 won't affect the previous page. 👍

The Columns drop-down menu in Microsoft Word is open, with 'Two' selected.

You can verify that this has correctly split your page into two columns by looking at the ruler at the top of your screen. You can also confirm that page 1 is still single-column using the same method. 📏

The ruler in Microsoft Word shows that the page has two columns.

Then, with your cursor at the end of the placeholder text on page 2, add another next-page section break. 🆕📄

At this point, page 3 will adopt the column format of page 2. To revert page 3 to a single-column format, make sure your cursor is on page 3, and click Columns > One. Because you added a section break at the end of page 2, adjusting the formatting on page 3 won't affect pages 1 and 2.

The Columns drop-down menu in Microsoft Word is open, with 'One' selected.

Again, you can verify that the final page has a column again by looking at the ruler at the top of your screen. Finally, you can replace the placeholder text with your content. 📝

By default, Microsoft Word adds columns of equal size. To adjust column widths, click Layout > Columns > More Columns, and specify your preferred widths in the dialog box that appears. 📏

Add a Section with Columns Within a Page

You can also use a similar method to add a columnar section within a page. However, this time, you need to add a continuous section break, which begins the next section on the same page. 🔄

In the example below, we want to add columnar text between two regular paragraphs. ✏️

After adding some placeholder text at the top of your page (this will be the first part of the page that has a single-column layout), click "Breaks" on the Design tab, and choose "Continuous."

The Breaks drop-down menu in Microsoft Word, with 'Continuous' selected.

Then, click on “Columns” and select “Two.”

The Columns drop-down menu in Microsoft Word is open, with 'Two' selected to split the section into two columns.

Now, insert some placeholder text and another continuous section break to indicate the end of the columnar section. 📝🔚

A section break in Microsoft Word that is placed at the end of a two-column section.

Finally, to revert the third section to a one-column layout, click Columns > One. ➕

The Columns drop-down menu in Microsoft Word, with 'One' selected to make the selected section a single column.

Click between each of the three sections to verify the layout on the ruler, then replace the placeholder text with your content. 🖋️

Three sections of a page in a Word document, with the middle section divided into two columns.

If you're finished typing in a column and want to move to the next, click Layout > Breaks > Column, or press Ctrl+Shift+Enter. 🔄➡️

Method 2: Using a Table

An alternative way to add columns to your Word document is to insert a table. 📋

Place your cursor where you want your columns to begin and click "Table" on the Insert tab in the toolbar. Then, use the first row of the grid to select the number of columns you want to insert. For example, for a two-column table, select the first two squares. ✨

The Insert Table option in Microsoft Word, with one row and two columns selected in the grid.

Your table is now ready for your content. 👍

A two-column, one-row table in Microsoft Word, with each column containing text.

If you want to force your single-row table to stay on a single page, you can add a page break before and after your table, or click Table Design > Properties, and uncheck "Allow row to span pages" on the Row tab. 🚪📄

The option in Microsoft Word to prevent row breaking between pages in the table properties dialog box.

Also, remember to remove table borders for aesthetic consistency. To do this, select the entire table and click "No Border" in the Borders drop-down menu on the Table Design tab. 🎨🚫

The No Border option in the table borders drop-down menu in Microsoft Word.

Which Method is Better?

Here's a summary of the pros and cons of each of the two methods described above:

Using Jumps

Using a Table

Text aligns perfectly with the left and right edges of your document when you use Word's built-in columns, while text in a table is slightly indented to allow for the table border. 📏

Tables are faster and easier to add and navigate than Word's built-in columns. ⚡

Because Word's built-in columns allow you to type directly on the page, they're less resource-intensive than tables. 🖊️

Because tables are formatted with borders by default, you can see their positioning more easily than when you add page columns. 🔍

Tables can cause formatting frustrations, while Word's columns and breaks are more structurally secure. ⚖️

You can jump from one column to the next by pressing Tab, saving you the need to add column breaks. 🔄

When you reach the end of the first column, Word automatically continues your text into the next column. When using a table, you must make this change manually. ↔️

It's easier to add formatting, such as a colored background, to table columns than to page columns. 🎨

Adding columns is just one of the many ways to improve your website design. document in Microsoft WordFor example, take some time to ensure your paragraphs are well-spaced, include a table of contents, add captions to your images, and use multi-level lists to add cohesion. 📝📚