Set text direction and position in a shape or text box in word

Text boxes and most shapes can include text in them. The text can be positioned horizontally or vertically, and it can appear on one line or wrap to multiple lines.

You can change the direction of the text, and you can also change the margins of text boxes and shapes for optimal spacing, or resize shapes for a better text fit.

Windows, newer versions Office 2010 macOS, newer versions macOS 2011

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Specify text direction in a shape or text box

In a shape or text box, you can change the direction in which text is read. That is, you can pivot text 90 or 270 degrees so that it appears sideways.

1. Right-click the edge of the shape or text box.

2. On the shortcut menu, select Format Shape.

   

3. In the Format Shape pane, click Size/Layout & Properties .

4. Under Text Box, select the option that you want in the Text direction list.

   

Rotate (mirror) text in a shape or text box

1. Right-click the box or shape and select Format Shape.

2. In the Format Shape pane, select Effects.

   

3. Select 3-D Rotation and in the X Rotation or Y Rotation box, enter 180.

4. (Optional) If your text box is filled with a color, you can remove the color in the Format Shape pane. Select Fill & Line , select Fill, and then select No fill.

5. (Optional) To remove the text box outline, right-click the text box, select Outline in the mini toolbar that appears, and choose No Outline.

Position text horizontally in a paragraph, shape, or text box

1. Select the paragraph, line of text, shape, or text box that you want to modify.

2. Go to Home and select the horizontal alignment option that you want.

Position text vertically in a shape or text box

1. Right-click the border of the shape or text box.

2. On the shortcut menu, select Format Shape.

   

3. In the Format Shape pane, select Size/Layout & Properties .

   

4. Select the option that you want in the Vertical alignment list.

Wrap text in a shape or text box

When text wraps, it automatically continues on a new line as it reaches the right border of the shape or text box.

1. Right-click the border of the shape or text box that contains the text you want to wrap.

2. On the shortcut menu, select Format Shape.

   

3. In the Format Shape pane, select Size/Layout & Properties , and then select Wrap text in shape.

   

Change the margins between text and the edge of a shape or text box

The margin is the distance between the text and the outer border of the enclosing shape or text box.

1. Right-click the border of the shape or text box.

2. On the shortcut menu, select Format Shape.

   

3. In the Format Shape pane, select Size/Layout & Properties .

   

4. Specify a measurement in inches or millimeters (mm) for any of the following margins:

   • Left margin     Distance between the left border of a shape and the leftmost text

   • Right margin     Distance between the right border of a shape and the rightmost text

   • Top margin     Distance between the top border of a shape and the uppermost text

   • Bottom margin     Distance between the bottom border of a shape and the lowest text

Resize a shape to fit text

You can automatically increase the size of a shape or text box vertically so that the text fits inside it.

1. Right-click the border of the shape or text box.

2. On the shortcut menu, select Format Shape.

   

3. In the Format Shape pane, select Layout & Properties , select Text Box, and then select Resize shape to fit text.

   

Tip: You can reduce the size of the text to fit it in the shape or text box by selecting Shrink text on overflow.

Specify text direction in a shape or text box

You can change direction of text in a shape or text box. For example, you can rotate text 90 or 270 degrees so that it appears sideways.

1. Right-click the edge of the shape or text box that contains the text.

2. On the shortcut menu, select Format Shape.

3. In the left pane of the dialog box, select Text Box.

   

4. Under Text layout, select the option that you want in the Text direction list.

5. Select Close.

Rotate (mirror) text in a shape or text box

1. Insert a text box or shape in your document, and then type and format your text.

2. Right-click the box or shape and select Format Shape.

3. In the Format Shape dialog box, select 3-D Rotation on the left.

   

4. In the X box, enter 180.

5. Select Close.

Position text horizontally in a paragraph, shape, or text box

1. Click or tap in the paragraph, line of text, shape, or text box that you want to modify.

2. On the Home tab, select the horizontal alignment option that you want.

Position text vertically in a shape or text box

1. Right-click the border of the shape or text box.

2. On the shortcut menu, select Format Shape, and then select Text Box in the left pane.

   

3. Under Text layout, select the option that you want in the Vertical alignment list.

4. Select Close.

Resize a shape to fit text

You can automatically increase the size of a shape or text box vertically so that the text fits inside it.

1. Right-click the border of the shape or text box that you want to resize.

2. On the shortcut menu, select Format Shape, and then select Text box in the left pane.

   

3. Under Autofit, select Resize shape to fit text.

4. Select Close.

Tip: You can reduce the size of the text to fit it in the shape or text box by selecting Shrink text on overflow.

Change the margins between text and the edge of a shape or text box

The internal margin is the changeable distance between text and the outer border of a shape or text box.

1. Right-click the border of the shape or text box.

2. On the shortcut menu, select Format Shape, and then select Text Box in the left pane.

   

3. Under Internal Margin, choose one or more of the following:

   • Left     Specifies the distance between the left border of a shape and the text.

   • Right     Specifies the distance between the right border of a shape and the text.

   • Top     Specifies the distance between the top border of a shape and the text.

   • Bottom     Specifies the distance between the bottom border of a shape and the text.

4. Select Close.

Specify text direction in a shape or text box

1. Control + Click the border of the shape or text box that contains the text, and then select Format Shape.

2. In the Format Shape pane on the right, select Text Options.

3. Select the third icon, Textbox, and then select the option that you want from the Text direction list.

   

Position text horizontally in a paragraph, text box or shape

1. Click or tap in the paragraph, line of text, shape, or text box that you want to modify.

2. Go to Home, and in the Paragraph group, click the horizontal alignment option that you want.

   

Automatically resize a shape to fit text

You can automatically increase the size of a text box or shape vertically so that the text fits inside it.

1. Control + Click the border of the shape or text box that you want to resize, and then select Format Shape.

2. In the Format Shape pane on the right, select Text Options.

3. Select Layout & Properties, and then select the check box next to Resize shape to fit text.

   

Change the default setting for wrapping text

By default, the text wraps automatically as you type in a text box or shape. If you don't want the text to wrap, do the following:

1. Control + Click the shape that contains the text, and then select Format Shape.

2. In the Format Shape pane on the right, select Text Options.

3. Select Layout & Properties, and then clear the check box next to Wrap text in shape.

Specify text direction in a shape, text box, or table cell

1. Enter the text in the shape or text box or table cell, and then select the text.

2. Ctrl+Click the selected text, and then select Format Shape. On the Text Box tab in the dialog box, choose a direction from the Text Direction box.

Position text horizontally in a shape or text box

1. Select the text in the shape or text box.

2. On the Home tab, under Paragraph, select the horizontal alignment button that you want.

   

   (Align Left, Centered, Align Right, Justified, or Distribute Text)

Position text vertically in a shape or text box

1. Select the text in the shape or text box.

2. On the Home tab, under Paragraph, select , and then select the vertical alignment that you want.

Wrap text in a shape or text box

By default, the text wraps automatically as you type in a text box or shape. If you don't want the text to wrap, do the following:

1. Select the text in the shape or text box.

2. Go to Format > Shape.

3. On the left side of the dialog box, select Text Box.

4. Under Internal Margin, clear the Wrap text in shape check box.

Resize a shape to fit text

1. Select the text in the shape or text box.

2. Go to Format > Shape.

   On the Format menu, select Shape.

3. On the left side of the dialog box, select Text Box.

4. Under Autofit, select Resize shape to fit text.