Formatting Issues

Fix Incorrect Table Position and Overlapping Pages in Word

Elise Williams Sep 25, 2026 874 views

Question details

A pasted table appears in the wrong position or document pages overlap.

How to Fix Incorrect Table Position and Overlapping Pages in Word

Product: Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Pasting tables or modifying document layouts where nonstandard formatting or conflicting page settings disrupt the visual alignment.
Observed behavior: The table renders in an incorrect position, and pages appear to overlap due to hidden text, white text, unusual character formatting, or conflicting odd- and even-page margin settings across sections.

Before you start

Before making changes, click the 'Show/Hide ¶' icon on the Home tab to reveal hidden formatting marks, which makes it easier to spot invisible text or unexpected section breaks.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Nonstandard Character Formatting

Use this solution to remove hidden text, white text, or irregular character formatting that forces the table into the wrong position.

Hidden characters or text formatted with a white font color can occupy invisible space, pushing your pasted table out of alignment. Clearing these formats restores normal text flow.

Select the affected text

Highlight the left column of your table or the text area immediately surrounding the misaligned table.

Use the clear formatting shortcut

Press the Ctrl + Space shortcut on your keyboard to instantly clear all nonstandard character formatting in the selected area.

Formatting Note: Keep in mind that using the Ctrl + Space shortcut will also remove other manual formatting applied to the text, such as italics, bolding, or custom font colors.

Solution 2

Adjust Section and Page Margin Settings

Resolve page overlap issues by checking for inconsistencies in odd and even page margins across different document sections.

Better Document Formatting

Easily Fix Table Layouts and Margins with WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers a highly intuitive layout engine that makes adjusting complex table alignments and page margins simple, helping you avoid overlapping pages and invisible formatting errors.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document experiencing table layout or overlapping issues.
2. Clear problematic formatting: Select the misaligned text or table and click the 'Clear Formatting' eraser icon on the Home tab to remove hidden text properties.
3. Standardize layout settings: Go to the Page Layout tab, click Margins, and apply a uniform layout to perfectly align your odd and even pages.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word formats (.docx, .doc).Intuitive drag-and-drop table adjustment tools.Clear visual indicators for section breaks and hidden text.Free, lightweight, and fast document processing alternative.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my pasted table overlap with the document text?

This frequently occurs when a table's text wrapping setting is configured incorrectly. To fix it, right-click the table, select Table Properties, and change the Text wrapping setting from 'Around' to 'None'.

How can I see hidden formatting that affects my layout?

You can display hidden characters by clicking the 'Show/Hide ¶' button located in the Paragraph group on the Home tab. This reveals spaces, paragraph marks, and hidden text that may be pushing your table out of place.

Why are my even and odd pages misaligned?

Your document likely has 'Mirror margins' enabled for double-sided printing, or differing margin sizes applied across different section breaks. You can standardize these by adjusting settings in Page Layout > Margins > Custom Margins.

Document & File Issues