Word can automatically format text into columns for you. First, you must identify the text you want formatted as columns.

 

The easiest way to do this is to select the text you want to place into columns. (If you want columns to be applied to your whole document, you can skip selecting the text.) You can also create a section and place your cursor inside that section.

 

Once you’ve identified your text, you can insert columns one of two ways:

 

-          Click the Columns button () on the standard toolbar.

-          Click the Format menu and click Columns.

 

Clicking the Columns button is much easier but offers fewer options. Once you click the columns button, simply select how many columns you want and Word will automatically format them for you.

 

 

If you click the Format menu and click Columns, you’ll get a dialog box with more options. (You can also use this option to edit existing columns.)

 

 

The first part of this box allows you to choose a Column Preset. You can choose a column setup from the five graphic choices, and then set the number of columns using the text box below that.

 

If you would rather create your own columns, you still need to type in the number of columns (up to 12). Then, you can set each column’s width and spacing. You can also check Equal column width to keep all columns the same size.

 

The drop-down menu at the bottom allows you to choose what portion of the text you want to apply these columns to. The options you have depend on how you identified your text.

 

How You Identified Text	Options
Haven’t inserted sections or selected text	This point forward Whole document
Selected text but not inserted sections	Selected text Whole document
Inserted sections but not selected text	This section This point forward Whole document
Selected text and inserted sections	Selected text Selected sections Whole document

 

On the left hand side of the Columns dialog box, we have a few more options.

 

 

Under the OK and Cancel buttons, we have a Line between checkbox. Checking it will insert a line between columns, so it is only lit up if you are using the two, three, left, or right preset. The preview section gives you a preview of how your column will look on sample text. Finally, the Start new column box should be checked if you have a previous column that you want this text to be separate from.