Formatting Issues

How to Fix Word Header and Footer Text Being Cut Off

John Wilson Oct 10, 2026 871 views

Question details

Header and footer text in a Word document is being clipped, hiding descenders such as 'p' and 'g'.

How to Fix Word Header and Footer Text Being Cut Off

Product: Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Editing an existing Word document where header or footer text displays incorrectly, while new blank documents appear perfectly fine.
Observed behavior: Text within the header and footer is cut off at the bottom. Changing the overall header margins does not reveal the missing portions of the letters.

Before you start

Ensure you double-click the header or footer area to activate it and highlight the specific clipped text before adjusting any spacing settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust Paragraph Line Spacing to Single

The most common cause of text clipping at the bottom is fixed or exact line spacing that is too small for the font size. Reverting it to Single spacing resolves the issue.

When line spacing is set to an 'Exact' point size that is smaller than your actual text height, Word forces the bounding box to shrink, cutting off descenders like 'p', 'g', and 'y'. Adjusting the paragraph settings allows the box to fit naturally.

Activate the Header or Footer

Double-click inside the header or footer area of your document to enter editing mode.

Select the Clipped Text

Highlight the specific text or paragraph (such as Header 4) that is currently being cut off.

Open Paragraph Settings

Right-click the highlighted text and select 'Paragraph' from the context menu to open the Paragraph dialog box.

Change Line Spacing

Locate the 'Spacing' section, click the 'Line spacing' drop-down menu, and select 'Single'. Click 'OK' to apply the changes.

Instant Fix: Applying 'Single' spacing allows the paragraph bounding box to automatically adapt to the font size, immediately revealing any hidden descenders.

Solution 2

Check Text Box or Shape Margins

If your header text is housed inside a shape or text box, tight internal margins may be causing the clipping.

WPS Office Writer

Fix Header and Footer Formatting Easily with WPS Office

WPS Office provides an intuitive interface for adjusting header, footer, and paragraph settings. You can easily fix cut-off text and ensure your document looks perfectly professional.

1. Open your Document: Launch WPS Office Writer and open the document containing the clipped headers or footers.
2. Access the Header/Footer: Double-click the header or footer area to enter editing mode, then highlight the affected text.
3. Change Line Spacing: Navigate to the Home tab on the ribbon, click the Line Spacing icon, and select '1.0' or 'Single' to reveal the full text.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx, .doc) formats and templates.Visual header and footer tools to prevent text clipping and overlap.Easy-to-use paragraph dialog for instant spacing adjustments.Lightweight, feature-rich, and completely free to download.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my text getting cut off at the bottom in Word?

This usually happens when the paragraph line spacing is set to an 'Exactly' value that is smaller than the font size. This forces the text bounding box to clip lower-hanging letters, known as descenders (like 'y' or 'g').

Will changing page margins fix clipped header text?

No, adjusting document or header margins only changes the distance between the edge of the page and the header area itself. If the text is clipped within the header, you must adjust the paragraph line spacing or the text box margins.

How do I fix headers that are covered by the main document text?

If the main body text overlaps the header, double-click the header to open the Header and Footer tools tab, and increase the 'Header from Top' measurement. Ensure your document's top margin is large enough to accommodate the header content.

Document & File Issues