Download Article
An easy-to-follow guide on changing the direction of text in Microsoft Word
Download Article
Do you want to type vertically in word? You can create vertical text by creating a textbox and adjusting its settings to set the position. You can change the text's direction, rotate it, and mirror it. You could also change the document's orientation from portrait to landscape mode. This wikiHow will show you how to write vertically in word on your Windows or Mac computer.
Best Way to Get Vertical Text in Word
- Open a project in MS Word.
- Select "Insert" > "Text Box" > "Simple Text Box" to create a new text box.
- Click the middle circle on the right side of the box and drag it over to the left.
- Remove the text box lines by going to "Shape Format" > "Shape Outline" > "No Outline."
Steps
-
Open a project in Microsoft Word. This looks like a W on top of a blue square. Microsoft Word is available to install for Windows and Mac . [1] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
- You must have a subscription to use Office 365.
-
Create a textbox. To do this, click the Insert tab in the top toolbar, then click the Text Box icon in the Text section. You can select Simple Text Box from the presets.Advertisement
-
Insert your text. Input the text you want to edit. You can copy and paste from another program into Microsoft Word.
- Make sure the textbox is still selected.
-
Click Shape Format . You can find this at the top toolbar, next to Help . Alternatively, double-click the edge of the textbox to be quickly redirected.
-
Click Text Direction . This will be in the Text section.
- A drop-down menu will open.
-
Select Rotate all text 90° . You can also select Rotate all text 270° if you want the top of the words to face the left side.
- Your text will be rotated.
- You can continue to edit your text in the textbox. The words will type in the direction set.
Advertisement
-
Open a project in Microsoft Word. This looks like a W on top of a blue square. Microsoft Word is available to install for Windows and Mac.
- You must have a subscription to use Office 365.
-
Create a textbox. To do this, click the Insert tab in the top toolbar, then click the Text Box icon in the Text section. You can select Simple Text Box from the presets.
-
Insert your text. Input the text you want to edit. You can copy and paste from another program into Microsoft Word.
- Make sure the textbox is still selected.
-
Click and drag the center circle on the right towards the left. With the textbox selected, you'll see four circles at each point of the text box and one circle between each corner. Use the middle circle on the left side.
- As you drag the text box towards the left, it will become smaller. The text inside will adjust to fit the size of the box in vertical format.
- Make sure not to drag past the point of the left line. This could result in the words returning to their normal positions.
-
Remove the textbox lines (optional). If you want to remove the lines around the text, double-click the textbox to return to the Shape Format tab.
- Click Shape Outline , then select No Outline from the drop-down menu.
- The textbox lines will be hidden. Be sure to save your document if you need to return to it later.
Advertisement
-
Open a project in Microsoft Word. This looks like a W on top of a blue square. Microsoft Word is available to install for Windows and Mac.
- You must have a subscription to use Office 365.
-
Create a text box. To do this, click the Insert tab in the top toolbar, then click the Text Box icon in the Text section. You can select Simple Text Box from the presets.
-
Insert your text. Input the text you want to edit. You can copy and paste from another program into Microsoft Word.
- Make sure the textbox is still selected.
-
Right-click the textbox. A drop-down menu will open.
-
Click Format Shape… . This will be at the very bottom of the menu.
- A panel will open on the right side.
- If you don't see this option, make sure the textbox is selected, not the text.
-
Click the "Effects" icon. This looks like a pentagon, next to the paint bucket icon.
-
Enter 180 in the X or Y field. If you want your text to be mirrored left-right, enter 180 into the X Rotation field. If you want your text to be mirrored up-down, enter 180 into the Y Rotation field.
- The changes will take effect immediately.
-
Remove the textbox lines (optional). If you want to remove the lines around the text, double-click the textbox to return to the Shape Format tab.
- Click Shape Outline , then select No Outline from the drop-down menu.
- The textbox lines will be hidden. You can print your document if needed.
Advertisement
-
Open a project in Microsoft Word. This looks like a W on top of a blue square. Microsoft Word is available to install for Windows and Mac.
- You must have a subscription to use Office 365.
- Use this method if you want to change your paper orientation from portrait to landscape.
-
Click Layout . This will be in the top toolbar, between Design and References .
-
Click Orientation . You can find this at the top, next to Margins .
- A drop-down menu will open.
-
Click Landscape . Your Microsoft Word document will change to landscape orientation.
- If you change back to portrait mode after inputting text, the text will follow the portrait mode orientation. It will not save in its landscape position.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
References
About This Article
Article Summary
X
1. Click Insert
.
2. Click Text
.
3. Click Text Box
.
4. Click Draw Text Box
.
5. Click and drag a text box.
6. Type text into the box.
7. Hover the mouse over the box outline.
8. Click the rotation icon and drag in any direction.
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,418,002 times.
Advertisement
