Formatting Issues

How to Curve Text Around a Circle in Microsoft Publisher

Olivia Miller Oct 9, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to arrange text along a circular path to create a curved text effect.

How to Curve Text Around a Circle in Microsoft Publisher

Product: Microsoft Publisher
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Designing a document, logo, or flyer where the text needs to wrap around a circular shape.
Observed behavior: Standard text boxes in Microsoft Publisher do not display a Text Transform option, preventing the text from following a circular path.

Before you start

Ensure you have your layout ready. If you are wrapping text around an existing image or shape, place that object on your Publisher canvas first to use as a visual guide for your curved text.

Solution 1Recommended

Use WordArt to Create Curved Text

Since standard text boxes lack the transform feature, using WordArt is the most effective way to curve text around a circle in Microsoft Publisher.

WordArt treats text as a graphic, which unlocks advanced shape manipulation tools, including the ability to wrap text along predefined paths like arches and circles.

Insert WordArt

Open your document, navigate to the 'Insert' tab on the ribbon, and click on 'WordArt'. Choose a plain style from the gallery to start.

Enter your text

In the 'Edit WordArt Text' dialog box that appears, type the text you want to curve, choose your preferred font, and click 'OK'.

Apply a circular transform

Select the inserted WordArt. Go to the 'WordArt Tools Format' tab on the ribbon, click 'Change Shape', and under the 'Follow Path' section, select the circular or arched path.

Adjust the curve

Click and drag the sizing handles (the small circles or squares on the border) to resize the WordArt. Use the yellow adjustment handle to change the steepness or length of the curve until it forms the perfect circle for your design.

Pro Tip: To make your WordArt a perfect circle rather than an oval, hold down the 'Shift' key on your keyboard while dragging the corner sizing handles.

Solution 2

Place Straight Text Inside a Circular Shape

If you do not need the text itself to curve, but rather want it contained within a circular boundary, you can use a shape as a text container.

Design Made Easy

Create Curved Text Effortlessly in WPS Office

If you are looking for an intuitive way to design flyers, logos, or documents with curved text, WPS Writer offers powerful and easy-to-use WordArt tools. You can create stunning circular text effects in seconds.

1. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open a new or existing document in WPS Writer.
2. Insert WordArt: Navigate to the 'Insert' tab on the top menu and click on 'WordArt'. Choose a style from the drop-down menu.
3. Type your text: A text box will appear on your page. Type the text you wish to curve.
4. Apply Transform Effects: Select the text, go to the 'Text Tools' tab, click 'Text Effects', hover over 'Transform', and choose the circular 'Follow Path' option.
5. Adjust the shape: Use the adjustment handles on the boundary box to pull the text into a perfect circle or arch as needed.

Easily transform text into circles, waves, and custom pathsFully compatible with Microsoft Office formats (.docx, .pptx)Free, lightweight, and user-friendly interfaceRich built-in shapes, WordArt styles, and formatting effects

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Standard text boxes in Microsoft Publisher are designed for block text and paragraph formatting. To apply vector-like path transformations such as curving or arching, you must use the WordArt tool, which treats the text as a graphic object.

How do I wrap curved text around an imported image?

While you cannot directly link text to an image's border path, you can create your text using WordArt, apply a circular transform, adjust its size to match your image, and then manually position the WordArt over or around the imported image.

Can I edit the text after I have curved it in WordArt?

Yes. Simply click on the curved WordArt to select it. Depending on your version of Publisher, you can either double-click it to open the 'Edit WordArt Text' dialog box, or edit the text directly within the object boundary.

Why is my curved text looking stretched or distorted?

This usually happens when the WordArt bounding box is resized unevenly. To fix distortion, adjust the height and width of the WordArt box to be completely symmetrical, or hold the 'Shift' key while dragging the corner handles to lock the aspect ratio.

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