Tables are an extremely useful feature in Microsoft Word that allow users to organize and present information in an easy-to-read format. However, if you’re new to Word, working with tables can seem complicated at first. In this beginner’s guide, we’ll walk through the basics of creating, formatting, and modifying tables in Word step-by-step.
Creating Tables in Word
There are a few different ways to create a table from scratch in Word:
Insert Table
- Place your cursor where you want the table to be inserted
- Go to the Insert tab and click the Table button
- Select the number of rows and columns you want
- Word will insert a blank table with the specified rows and columns
Draw Table
- Go to Insert > Table > Draw Table
- Use your mouse or trackpad to draw the outline of the table
- Draw additional lines to divide the table into rows and columns
Convert Text to Table
- Type out text separated by commas, tabs, or other characters
- Select the text you want to convert
- Go to Insert > Table > Convert Text to Table
- Word will convert the separated text into a table
Once you’ve inserted a table, you can start typing or pasting content into the individual cells.
Formatting Tables
The Table Tools contextual tabs (Design and Layout) allow you to customize the look of your table. Some key options include:
- Table Styles – Apply built-in styles to format the table quickly
- Borders – Change border width, color and line style
- Shading – Add background color to table rows or columns
- Text alignment – Align text left, right, center, or justify within cells
You can also adjust row height and column width by selecting a row or column and changing the measurements under Table Properties.
Modifying Tables
Other useful ways to modify an existing table include:
- Insert or delete rows and columns
- Merge or split cells
- Distribute rows and columns to make them uniform size
- Sort table data alphabetically or numerically
Don’t be afraid to experiment with the options under the Table Tools tabs. Just remember you can use Ctrl + Z to undo any changes!
Conclusion
Learning to work with Word tables takes practice, but it’s a worthwhile skill that can help organize and present information in documents. Start by learning to insert and format basic tables, then try some of the modification options covered here. Refer to Word’s help documentation for more advanced table techniques. With a bit of experimentation, you’ll soon become comfortable harnessing the power of tables in Word!
