End sections in word

Use sections breaks to divide and format documents of all sizes. For example, you can break down sections into chapters, and add formatting such as columns, headers and footers, page borders, to each.

Add a section break

1. Select where you want a new section to begin.

2. Go to Layout > Breaks.

   

3. Choose the type of section break you want:

   • Next Page    Section break starts the new section on the following page.

     

   • Continuous    Section break starts the new section on the same page. This type of section break is often used to change the number of columns without starting a new page.

     

   • Even Page    Section break starts a new section on the next even-numbered page.

     

   • Odd Page    Section break starts a new section on the next odd-numbered page.

     

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Insert a section break

1. Select where you want a new section to begin.

2. Go to Page Layout > Breaks.

   

3. Section break that you want to add:

   • A Next Page section break starts the new section on the next page

     

   • A Continuous section break starts the new section on the same page.

     Tip: You can use Continuous section breaks to create pages with different number of columns.

     

   • An Even Page or an Odd Page section break starts the new section on the next even-numbered or odd-numbered page.

     

Insert a section break

1. Select where you want a new section to begin.

2. Go to Layout > Breaks, and then choose the type of section break you want.

   

   • Next Page    Starts the new section on the following page.

     

   • Continuous    Starts the new section on the same page. This section break is particularly useful for documents that have columns. You can use it to change the number of columns without starting a new page.

     

   • Even Page    Starts the new section on the next even-numbered page. For example, if you insert an Even Page Break at the end of page 3, the next section will start on page 4.

     

   • Odd Page    Starts the new section on the next odd-numbered page. For example, if you insert an Odd Page Section Break at the end of page 3, the next section will start on page 5.

     

You can add page breaks, but Word for the web can’t add section breaks yet.

If you have the Word desktop application, use the Open in Word command to open the document and add section breaks there. When you’re done and you save the document, it will continue to be stored where you opened it in Word for the web.

See also

Use section breaks to change the layout or formatting in a section of your document

Insert a page break

When you’re working on a long document, separating it into different parts makes it much easier to navigate. Microsoft Word eases your workflow by letting you insert document breaks, namely section and page breaks.

As you’ll see in this article by defining section and page breaks you can apply specific formatting elements in different parts of your document. You’ll also have better control over pagination. 

Read on to learn how to use section and page breaks in Word to make your document more visually appealing and easier for readers to make their way around. Finally, we’ll show you some great sources for professionally designed Word templates.

How to Add Breaks in MS Word (Quick Start Video)

Are you ready to learn how how to insert breaks in MS Word? The short video below will give you a head start on inserting, viewing, and deleting MS Word section and page breaks:

To learn even more about breaks in Word (including the difference betwen section breaks and page breaks), study the written tutorial below.

Understanding Section and Page Breaks

Section and page breaks are types of breaks or partitions in a Word document. In this section, you’ll learn some basics:

1. Microsoft Word Section Break vs Page Break

A page break is a partition in the text of the document. At a page break, the succeeding text is automatically placed on top of a new page.

But, with a section break for Word the text is partitioned — along with the formatting associated with it: 

• page numbers
• margins
• headers and footers
• paper size and/or orientation

Also, a Microsoft Word section break may or may not begin on a new page (more on that below).

2. Why Use Microsoft Section and Page Breaks?

Section and page breaks are useful for partitioning different parts of a document, especially a long one. 

In a book, you’d use section breaks to divide it into chapters as well as delineate the front matter from the back matter. The title page, copyright page, table of contents, individual chapters, index, etc., would be separate sections.

For example, you usually want a new chapter of a book (or similar) document to begin on a new page. This is when a page break is most useful.

A section break for MS Word is useful for visually distinguishing parts of a document. An example of where you might use a section break is in a proposal where you want the summary to have a different layout. In this case, the summary section could have its own header, footer, and margins that are different from the rest of the document. 

By using section breaks, each chapter can have a different running header, including the chapter title.

Microsoft Word Section breaks also let you use lower case numbers for page numbers on the introduction of the book and Arabic numerals on the rest of the pages. 

Similarly, a section break in Microsoft Word lets you use a two-column format in the index section and a single column everywhere else.

You’ll also want to use section and page breaks when you want to control the pagination of your document. For example, the first page of your document may be a cover page. But you don’t want the cover page to be page 1 of your document. By inserting a section break after the cover page, you can make the next page be page 1.

You accomplish these results by inserting different types of section and page breaks in Word.

3. Types of Microsoft Word Section Breaks

There are four types of section breaks in MS Word:

1. Next Page. This type of section break forces the text to the right of the cursor to a new section on the following page. All the formatting associated with the text is carried through to the new section as well.
2. Continuous. A continuous section break creates a new section but keeps the text on the same page. This means two different sections can have their own formatting yet remain on the same page.
3. Odd Page. This kind of section break moves the text to the right of the cursor to the top of the next odd-numbered page. If you’re on page 3, for example, and you insert an Odd Page Section Break, the next section will start on top of page 5 (page 4 will be blank). Book chapters usually begin on the next odd page of the book.
4. Even Page. An Even Page section break moves the text to the right of the cursor to the top of the next even-numbered page. So, if you’re on page 6 and you insert an Even Page Section Break, the new section will begin on page 8 (leaving page 7 blank).

4. Types of Page Breaks

As for Microsoft Word page breaks, there are two kinds:

1. Simple Page Breaks. A simple page break moves text to the right of the cursor to the top of the next page.
2. Column Breaks. If your document is broken up into columns, a column break moves text to the right of the cursor to the top of the next column.

How to View Existing Breaks in an MS Word Doc 

By default, section and page breaks are invisible in Word. You can only see their effects. You’ll see changes in formatting and pagination for each section. That’s because these breaks don’t appear when the document is printed.

As you’re editing and formatting your document, you may need to see page and section breaks. To view existing page and section breaks in Word, on the Home tab, then click on the Paragraph button.

How to Insert Section Breaks in Your Word Docs

To insert a page or section break, place the cursor where you want one section/page to end and the next section/page to begin.

Go to Insert > Break, then choose the specific type of page break or section break you want to insert.

Or, click on the Layout tab. Then click on the Breaks button on the ribbon and select the type of page or section break you wish to insert.

How to Remove/Delete Section and Page Breaks in Word

To remove a section or page break in Word, first display all the breaks.

Select the section or page break you want to remove by highlighting it. Click on either the Delete or Backspace key on your keyboard.

When you delete a section break, the text in the section adopts the formatting of the next section.

Tips for Using Section and Page Breaks in MS Word

Are you just getting comfortable with using Microsoft Word section and page breaks? Here are some extra tips to help you use them effectively:

1. Keep Your Section Breaks to a Minimum

Insert a section break in Word only when you have to (see above for when it’s a good idea to do so). Having more sections than necessary makes it more difficult to make global changes to your document, because you’d have to manually make those changes in each section. 

2. Pay Attention to Which Section You’re In

If you’ve divided your document into sections, always be aware of what section you’re in when you make formatting changes. That’s because these changes will apply only to the section you’re currently in — that’s the section where your cursor is. If you want to make a formatting change to apply to the whole document, select the entire document first before making your changes.

3. Microsoft Word May Change a Continuous Section Break to the Other Section Break Types

You may be surprised that your continuous section break has been converted into a different type of section break. This happens when you’ve got a continuous section break. Then, in the next section, you try to apply a different header/footer, pagination, margins, or page size and orientation. Those formatting changes require a page break. And so, Word will automatically change the section break type to one that results in a page break.

Streamline Your Microsoft Word Workflow With Templates

There are other ways to streamline your MS Word workflow. One of them is using premium Word templates, like the ones you’ll find at Envato. Premium templates for Microsoft Word are created by professional designers to provide impressive layouts. These templates are customizable with your content, images, and branding. You can also adjust the design and layout as you please.

Envato Elements gives you unlimited downloads of Word templates as well as other inputs you need to complete your projects — fonts, graphics, stock photos, and more — all for one flat monthly subscription fee.

Or, go to GraphicRiver for Microsoft Word templates and other creative elements on a pay-per-use basis. It’s a terrific source for one-off projects.

Make Your Document Easier to Read and Navigate

Now you know how to use section and page breaks in Microsoft Word to better organize your document. Section breaks also let you have more granular control over the formatting of specific parts of your document. These make your document look better as well as easier to read and navigate through.

Use the steps you learned in this article to properly use section and page breaks. Also, use Word templates to make it much easier and faster to create impressive documents. Envato Elements provides unlimited downloads of templates for Word for one monthly subscription. For occasional projects, GraphicRiver is an excellent source of Word templates where you pay for each use.

Editorial Note: This tutorial has been updated to add a video by Andrew Childress.

Change a section break

1. Click or tap in the section break you want to change.
2. Go to Layout and select the Page Setup launcher button .
3. Select the Layout tab.
4. Select a new section type from the Section Start drop down list.
5. Select OK.

How do I view and edit sections in Word?

Since the section breaks are hidden by default in Word, you need to show the formatting marks to see them. Press the Pilcrow (¶) button in the Paragraph section from the Home tab. The section breaks show up in the document so that you can identify and remove them.

Insert a section break

1. Select where you want a new section to begin.
2. Go to Page Layout > Breaks.
3. Section break that you want to add: A Next Page section break starts the new section on the next page. A Continuous section break starts the new section on the same page.

How can I remove a section break in Word?

Instructions

1. Open your document in Word.
2. Select the Home tab.
3. Click the Show/Hide button in the Paragraph section.
4. Select the section break you wish to delete.
5. Press the Delete key on your keyboard.

1. To change a header, scroll to the top of a page and double-click the header.
2. Under the Header & Footer Tools Design tab, select where and how you want your header to appear in the document:
3. If you’d like to link to a previous section of the document, select Link to Previous.
4. Type your text into the header.

How do I change a section break from continuous to next?

Go to File > Page Setup on the menu. Click the Layout tab. In the Section start drop-down list, select the type of section you want to change it to (‘New page’ is the same as ‘Next page’ under Insert > Break). Click OK.

How do I put different borders on each page in Word?

different borders on each page

1. Click anywhere in your document and do Format Borders and Shading.
2. On the Page Borders tab, choose the border you want for all but the first. page of the document, make sure the “Apply to” box says “Whole document” and.
3. Now, back to the Page Borders tab. This time, choose the border you want.

Why can’t I delete section break in Word?

If you have difficulty deleting a section break, click the View tab in the Ribbon and select Draft in the Views group. Select the break by dragging over it and then press Delete.

How do I remove a section break in Word without losing formatting?

Unfortunately, there is no intrinsic way to delete section breaks and maintain the formatting represented by that break. There is a workaround you can use, however: Place the insertion point at the end of the document, just after the final section break.

Why can’t I select a section break in Word?

There are several methods which should work: Place the cursor at the beginning of the Section Break then press del in the Numeric Keypad if your keyboard has one. If not [as with a laptop] press fn+delete. Place the cursor at the beginning of the Section Break, press Shift+➡︎ then press delete.

Click anywhere in the section of your document for which you want to create a different header or footer. In Word 2010 and 2007, select the Insert tab, and then select either Header or Footer. Then, select Edit Header or Edit Footer. In earlier versions of Word, from the View menu, select Header and Footer.

Configure headers and footers for different sections of a…

1. Click or tap the page at the beginning of a section.
2. Select Layout > Breaks > Next Page.
3. Double-click the header or footer on the first page of the new section.

Section breaks are intricately tied in with the File Page setup options of Different First Page and Different Odd/Even Headers and Footers.If you use the Different First Page option in your document, and then insert a section break, the second section is automatically created with the Different First Page too.

How do I remove a section break in Word 2016?

If you added section breaks to your document, the easiest way to see where they begin and end is to show formatting marks. Go to Home, and select Show all nonprinting characters. Select the section break and then press Delete.

How do I change the layout of two columns in Word?

On the Layout tab, click Columns, then click the layout you want.

1. To apply columns to only part of your document, with your cursor, select the text that you want to format.
2. On the Layout tab, click Columns, then click More Columns.
3. Click Selected text from the Apply to box.

How do you change the column style of the paragraph to two columns?

Select the Page Layout tab, then click the Columns command. A drop-down menu will appear. Select the number of columns you want to create. The text will format into columns.

How do I change left tab to right tab in Word?

Do one of the following:

1. To create a new left tab stop, click on the horizontal ruler where you want the tab stop. A tab stop marker appears on the ruler.
2. To create a new right, center, or decimal tab stop, click the tab selector.

How do I remove a section break in Word without losing header and footer?

You can simply remove the section breaks in Word 2013 by putting mouse cursor before Section Break and while holding left mouse button going to the end of the Section Break till it’s selected.

Double-click the header or footer area to open the Header & Footer tab. Select Link to Previous to turn off the link between the sections. Select Header or Footer and do one of the following: Choose Remove Header or Remove Footer .

Remove all headers and footers

1. Go to Insert > Header or Footer, and then select Remove Header or Remove Footer.
2. If your document has more than one section, repeat this process for each section.

How do I select a section break?

Go to Insert > Break, then choose the specific type of page break or section break you want to insert. The image above shows how to insert section break in Word. Or, click on the Layout tab. Then click on the Breaks button on the ribbon and select the type of page or section break you wish to insert.

Inserting a Section Break in a Word document gives you a number of ways to split up large walls of text. This feature is useful not just for breaking up text by pages but also for multi-column layouts.

Click anywhere on the page. This is where your new section will begin, so it’s a good idea to avoid breaking up words or sentences and instead look for opportunities to break the page at the end of a paragraph or at least a sentence.

Click the “Layout” tab on the ribbon at the top of the Word window.

Click “Breaks” under “Page Setup” to open a new drop-down menu with multiple options for both Page and Section Breaks.

Under “Section Breaks,” select the type of break you want to insert on the page. If you’re unsure, there’s a description of each below.

• Next Page: Breaks the text at the cursor. Anything to its right (or below it) will move to its own page.
• Continuous: Starts a new section on the same page. This is often used on documents with multiple columns.
• Even Page: Starts a new section at the next even-numbered page.
• Odd Page: Starts a new section at the next odd-numbered page.

Delete a Section Break

To remove a section break from your Word document, first click the “Home” tab.

Click the “non-printing characters” icon. It looks a bit like a backwards “P.”

Click the space to the left of the break you want to delete and then press the “Delete” key on the keyboard.

Change to a Different Type of Section Break

To change a section break to a different type of break, first find the Section Break you want to change and click just to the left of it.

Switch to the “Layout” tab on the ribbon.

Click “Breaks” to open the “Page and Section Breaks” menu.

Choose the new type of section break you want by clicking on any of the options. It will automatically change the type of Section Break based on what you choose.

Your document will now be broken up into whatever type of sections you selected.

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