How to Adjust the Space Outside a Text Box in Word
Question details
The user needs to reduce or customize the white space between text boxes and the surrounding document text.
- Product
- Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Formatting a long document containing multiple text boxes and needing to optimize the layout by bringing the surrounding text closer to or further from the text box borders.
- Observed behavior
- Default text wrapping settings push the surrounding text too far away or inconsistently, creating unwanted white space around the external borders of the text box.
Ensure your text box wrapping style is set to something other than 'In Line with Text' (such as 'Square' or 'Tight'), as the external spacing controls are only available for floating objects.
Use Layout Options to Adjust Distance from Text
Access the advanced Layout dialog box to manually set the specific measurements for the top, bottom, left, and right external spacing.
Microsoft Word allows you to precisely control how close regular text gets to your text box using the 'Distance from text' feature. This is particularly useful in complex documents where standard text wrapping leaves too much white space.
Click directly on the border of the text box you want to adjust.
Right-click the text box border to open the context menu, then select 'More Layout Options'. Alternatively, you can find this option on the ribbon under the 'Text Box' or 'Shape Format' tab.
In the Layout dialog box that appears, click on the 'Text Wrapping' tab.
Locate the 'Distance from text' section at the bottom of the dialog box. Enter your desired measurements for Top, Bottom, Left, and Right spacing to increase or decrease the white space.
Click 'OK' to save your settings and apply the new spacing to your document layout.
Adjust Text Box Spacing Effortlessly with WPS Writer
WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface for managing text boxes and document layouts. You can easily control text wrapping, external spacing, and document design with full Microsoft Word compatibility.
- 1. Insert or select text box: Open your document in WPS Writer and click on the border of the text box you want to modify.
- 2. Access layout tools: Right-click the border and select 'More Layout Options' from the drop-down menu.
- 3. Modify text wrapping: Switch to the 'Text Wrapping' tab and find the 'Distance from text' section.
- 4. Apply spacing: Enter your preferred margins for the outside of the text box and click 'OK'.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change the internal margins of a text box instead of the outside space?
To adjust the space inside the text box (between the text and the border), right-click the text box, select 'Format Shape' or 'Format Object', navigate to the Text Box properties section, and adjust the internal Top, Bottom, Left, and Right margins.
Can I apply the same text box spacing to multiple text boxes at once?
Yes. Hold down the Ctrl key (or Shift key on Mac) and click the border of each text box to select multiple items. Then, right-click to open 'More Layout Options' and apply your 'Distance from text' settings to all selected text boxes simultaneously.
How do I make the text box transparent after adjusting the spacing?
Select the text box, go to the 'Shape Format' or 'Drawing Tools' tab on the ribbon. Click 'Shape Fill' and select 'No Fill' to make the background transparent, and click 'Shape Outline' and select 'No Outline' to hide the border.
