Formatting Issues

How to Fix Text Spreading and Blue Lines in a Word Table Cell

John Wilson Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to fix an issue where text abnormally stretches across the entire cell width, shrinks, or condenses, accompanied by a bright blue line appearing underneath the text.

How to Fix Text Spreading and Blue Lines in a Word Table Cell

Product: Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Typing or editing text inside a specific table cell, often within a company-wide document template.
Observed behavior: Text inside the table cell unexpectedly spreads out to fill the space, condenses when more words are added, and displays a bright blue underline indicating a formatting constraint.

Before you start

If you are working with a company-wide template, save a separate copy of the document to test formatting adjustments safely without altering the original master file.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable 'Fit Text' and Adjust Alignment Settings

The most common cause of text stretching and blue lines in a table cell is the 'Fit Text' option combined with distributed paragraph alignment.

When 'Fit Text' is enabled, Word forces the text to occupy the exact width of the cell. If there are only a few words, they spread out; if there are many, they shrink. This is often indicated by a light blue underline beneath the text.

Toggle Distributed Alignment

Click inside the affected table cell and press Ctrl+Shift+J to quickly turn off distributed alignment.

Open Table Properties

Right-click anywhere inside the problematic cell and select 'Table Properties' from the context menu.

Access Cell Options

Navigate to the 'Cell' tab in the Table Properties dialog box and click the 'Options' button at the bottom right.

Disable Fit Text

Uncheck the box labeled 'Fit text', then click 'OK' twice to apply the changes and exit the menus.

Formatting Cleared: Once disabled, the blue line will disappear, and your text will wrap naturally according to standard paragraph rules.

Solution 2

Copy Formatting from a Working Cell

If adjusting the table properties manually does not work, you can override the stubborn formatting by copying settings from a normal cell.

Solution 3

Recreate the Corrupted Cell

For deeply corrupted templates where formatting cannot be cleared, deleting and recreating the specific cell provides a permanent fix.

Seamless Document Formatting

Easily Fix Table Formatting Issues with WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface for managing complex table properties, making it incredibly simple to adjust cell alignment, fix 'Fit Text' issues, and clear corrupted formatting in your documents.

1. Open your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the .docx file containing the problematic table.
2. Access Table Settings: Right-click the cell with the stretching text and select 'Table Properties'.
3. Disable Fit Text: Go to the 'Cell' tab, click 'Options', and ensure 'Fit text' is completely unchecked.
4. Reset Alignment: Highlight the text, navigate to the 'Home' tab, and click the 'Align Left' icon to remove any hidden distributed alignment.

100% compatible with Microsoft Word .docx and template filesClear, easy-to-navigate Table Properties and formatting menusLightweight software that quickly processes heavy document templatesFree to use with a familiar user interface

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does a blue line appear under my text in a Word table?

A bright blue underline in a table cell typically indicates that the 'Fit text' option is enabled. This setting forces the text to compress or stretch to match the exact width of the cell, generating the blue line as a visual indicator.

What is the keyboard shortcut to fix distributed text alignment?

You can press Ctrl+Shift+J on your keyboard to quickly toggle distributed paragraph alignment on or off. This often resolves the issue of text abnormally stretching out to touch both sides of a table cell.

How do I stop text from shrinking when I type more words into a cell?

To prevent text from shrinking, right-click the affected cell and select Table Properties. Navigate to the Cell tab, click the Options button, and uncheck the 'Fit text' box. This restores normal text wrapping.

Can I fix table cell formatting without altering my company template?

Yes. If the issue is isolated to a specific cell, you can use the Format Painter tool to copy the settings from a working cell and apply them to the broken one, leaving the rest of the company template intact.

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