Fix Word to PDF Conversion Shifting Text and Cutting Off Edges
Question details
Converting Microsoft Word documents to PDF causes text to shift right and truncate at the edge of the page.
- Product
- Microsoft Word / Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Converting standard Word documents to PDF format using the Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017 add-in or printer.
- Observed behavior
- The document content shifts to the right during the conversion process, causing the right edge of the text to be cut off, regardless of the document's page layout.
Before altering system or printer configurations, temporarily turn off 'Track Changes' and hide comments in your document, as the markup margin often forces text to shift or shrink during printing and conversion.
Match Word Page Setup with PDF Printer Settings
Aligning the page dimensions in Word with the Adobe PDF printer settings prevents layout conflicts that cause text shifting.
A mismatch between your document's defined page size (e.g., A4) and the default paper size in your virtual PDF printer (e.g., Letter) frequently causes rendering errors and misaligned margins.
Open your Word document, go to the 'Layout' tab on the ribbon, and click 'Size' to confirm the exact dimensions of your document.
Go to File > Print. Select 'Adobe PDF' from the printer dropdown menu, then click 'Printer Properties' directly beneath it.
In the Adobe PDF Document Properties window, locate the 'Adobe PDF Page Size' setting. Change this value so it exactly matches the size you verified in your Word Layout tab, then click OK and proceed to print.
Use Alternative Built-in Conversion Methods
Bypass the Adobe Acrobat add-in completely by using Microsoft Office's native PDF export tools to retain proper formatting.
Repair or Update Adobe Acrobat
Updating or repairing the Adobe installation resolves corrupted registry entries or outdated add-in bugs causing layout shifts.
Convert Word to PDF Seamlessly with WPS Office
Avoid plugin conflicts, margin mismatches, and text cutoffs by using the built-in PDF conversion engine in WPS Office. It perfectly renders document layouts without relying on external virtual printers.
- 1. Open the Document: Launch WPS Office Writer and open your problematic Word document (.docx or .doc).
- 2. Select Export to PDF: Click on the 'Menu' button in the top left corner, hover over 'Export to PDF', and select it.
- 3. Export and Save: In the export dialog box, configure your desired save path and click 'Export to PDF' to instantly create a perfectly aligned PDF document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my text shift to the right when converting Word to PDF?
This usually happens when there is a mismatch between your Word document's physical page dimensions (like A4) and the default paper size configured in your Adobe PDF virtual printer properties (like US Letter). The printer adjusts the layout to fit the mismatched size, causing shifts.
Can track changes or comments cause the right side to cut off in PDFs?
Yes. If 'Print Markup' is enabled, the PDF conversion reserves space on the right margin to display comments and revisions. This shrinks or pushes your main text. You can fix this by turning off 'Print Markup' under the Print settings dropdown before converting.
Does 'Save As PDF' work better than 'Print to PDF'?
They process documents differently. 'Save As PDF' natively exports the file, preserving interactive elements like hyperlinks, bookmarks, and accessibility tags. 'Print to PDF' acts like a physical printer and flattens the file, which strips interactive elements but can sometimes bypass stubborn layout glitches.
