Rotating text in Microsoft Word allows you to add visual interest and draw attention to specific parts of your document. Whether you want to create eye-catching headings, add some flair to your page layouts, or just experiment with different text directions, learning how to rotate text is a useful skill.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the entire process of rotating text in Word using simple step-by-step instructions.
Prerequisites
Before rotating text in Word, make sure you have the following:
- Microsoft Word installed on your Windows or Mac computer. These instructions apply to Word 2016 and later versions.
- A Word document open to add rotated text to. You can use an existing or blank document.
Step 1: Add a Text Box
The first thing you need to do is add a text box to your document. Rotated text has to be contained inside a text box in Word. Here’s how:
- Go to the Insert tab.
- Click the Text Box button.
- Select a text box style or click Draw Text Box to create a custom text box.
- Draw the text box to the desired size on your document page.
You can now add text inside this box to rotate.
Step 2: Type Text
With your text box inserted, click inside it and type the text you want to rotate. You can add multiple paragraphs if needed.
Format the text with your preferred font type and size to complete the text content.
Step 3: Rotate Text Box
Now that your text is ready, it’s time to rotate it. There are a few different rotation options available:
Use Rotation Handle
- Click the border of the text box to select it.
- Locate the circular rotation handle at the top.
- Click and drag the handle to rotate the text box.
Rotate Preset Degrees
- With the text box selected, go to the Format tab.
- Click Rotate in the Arrange section.
- Choose either Rotate Left 90° or Rotate Right 90° to quickly rotate the text box.
Custom Rotation Angle
- With the text box selected, go to the Format tab.
- Click the Rotate drop-down arrow.
- Select More Rotation Options.
- Enter your custom rotation angle from -3600 to 3600 in the dialog box.
- Click OK to apply the rotation.
Experiment with different text box rotation options to find an angle that works for your document layout.
Step 4: Position Rotated Text Box
With your text now rotated inside the text box, you can drag the box to any position on your page.
Use these tips when positioning:
- Hold Shift while dragging to move the box in straight horizontal/vertical lines.
- Hold Ctrl to make a copy of the text box while dragging instead of just moving it.
Make sure the rotated text box is placed where you want it within your Word document.
Advanced Rotated Text Options
In addition to the basic rotation technique covered above, there are a few more things you can try:
- Nest rotated text within side rotated text by adding multiple text boxes.
- Rotate individual lines or words within a text box using WordArt.
- Create vertical text by rotating text left or right by 90 degrees.
- Animate rotated text inside text boxes to make them spin or change angles.
Take time to explore all the possibilities rotating text unlocks in Word!
Troubleshooting Rotated Text
If you run into issues while rotating text in your Word documents, here is how to troubleshoot:
- Make sure the text you want to rotate is inside a text box, not just typed directly on the page.
- Verify that the text box itself is selected, not just the text inside it, before applying rotation.
- Check that the Rotate options are enabled on the Format tab when you insert a text box.
- Try deleting and re-inserting the text box if rotation isn’t working properly.
With a little experimentation, you should be able to successfully rotate text in any direction you like using Microsoft Word!
Conclusion
Learning how to rotate text in Word opens up new creative options for your documents. As you saw in this guide, it just takes a few simple steps to set up and customize rotated text.
Apply these tips the next time you want to add visual flair in Word using unique text directions. Rotated text catches the reader’s eye and makes your documents more memorable.
Now that you know how to rotate text like a pro, have fun coming up with innovative ways to use it in your Word documents!
