What is page layout in word

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Introduction

Word offers a variety of page layout and formatting options that affect how content appears on the page. You can customize the page orientation, paper size, and page margins depending on how you want your document to appear.

Optional: Download our practice document.

Watch the video below to learn more about page layout in Word.

Page orientation

Word offers two page orientation options: landscape and portrait. Compare our example below to see how orientation can affect the appearance and spacing of text and images.

• Landscape means the page is oriented horizontally.

  

• Portrait means the page is oriented vertically.

  

To change page orientation:

1. Select the Layout tab.
2. Click the Orientation command in the Page Setup group.

   

3. A drop-down menu will appear. Click either Portrait or Landscape to change the page orientation.

   

4. The page orientation of the document will be changed.

Page size

By default, the page size of a new document is 8.5 inches by 11 inches. Depending on your project, you may need to adjust your document’s page size. It’s important to note that before modifying the default page size, you should check to see which page sizes your printer can accommodate.

To change the page size:

Word has a variety of predefined page sizes to choose from.

1. Select the Layout tab, then click the Size command.

   

2. A drop-down menu will appear. The current page size is highlighted. Click the desired predefined page size.

   
3. The page size of the document will be changed.

To use a custom page size:

Word also allows you to customize the page size in the Page Setup dialog box.

1. From the Layout tab, click Size. Select More Paper Sizes from the drop-down menu.

   

2. The Page Setup dialog box will appear.
3. Adjust the values for Width and Height, then click OK.

   

4. The page size of the document will be changed.

Page margins

A margin is the space between the text and the edge of your document. By default, a new document’s margins are set to Normal, which means it has a one-inch space between the text and each edge. Depending on your needs, Word allows you to change your document’s margin size.

To format page margins:

Word has a variety of predefined margin sizes to choose from.

1. Select the Layout tab, then click the Margins command.

   

2. A drop-down menu will appear. Click the predefined margin size you want.

   

3. The margins of the document will be changed.

To use custom margins:

Word also allows you to customize the size of your margins in the Page Setup dialog box.

1. From the Layout tab, click Margins. Select Custom Margins from the drop-down menu.

   

2. The Page Setup dialog box will appear.
3. Adjust the values for each margin, then click OK.

   

4. The margins of the document will be changed.

Alternatively, you can open the Page Setup dialog box by navigating to the Layout tab and clicking the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Page Setup group.

You can use Word’s convenient Set as Default feature to save all of the formatting changes you’ve made and automatically apply them to new documents. To learn how to do this, read our article on Changing Your Default Settings in Word.

Challenge!

1. Open our practice document.
2. Change the page orientation to Portrait.
3. Change the page size to Legal. If Legal size is not available, you can choose another size such as A5.
4. Change the margins to the Narrow setting.
5. When you’re finished, your document should be one page if using Legal size. It should look something like this:

   

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Last Update: Jan 03, 2023

This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested!

Asked by: Conrad Altenwerth

Score: 4.2/5
(61 votes)

Page layout is the term used to describe how each page of your document will appear when it is printed. In Word, page layout includes elements such as the margins, the number of columns, how headers and footers appear, and a host of other considerations.

What is layout view in Word?

«Web Layout view is designed to allow you to easily see how your documents will look if used in an online environment. There is not much more to say about this viewing mode; it is provided for those who intend on publishing their Word documents online.»

Where is the layout in Word?

Click the view icons in the bottom—right corner of your document window. The only view icons in the bottom-right corner of the document window are Read Mode, Print Layout, and web Layout. Click the View tab and then click the view you want to use, such as Print Layout or Draft view.

What is normal layout in Word?

«Normal View» uses far less of your computer resources than «Page View» although it doesn’t display the document as it will be printed. In Microsoft Word, switches to normal view, which is the default document view for most word-processing tasks, such as typing, editing, and formatting.

How do I fix my Microsoft Word layout?

Change the default layout

34 related questions found

Page Layout in Microsoft Word refers to the arrangement or setting of certain pages or entire documents based on the requirements of the content being displayed.

Before beginning the process of taking printouts, it is very important to set the page’s margins, orientations, sizes of columns, and spacing.

On the layout tab, we can see a number of different categories, such as Page Setup, Paragraph, and Arrange, and each of these groups contains a different set of commands to deal with.

Page Setup:

Margins: Margin is the space between the content beginning or ending in the document and the edges of the document pages. The default space between the content beginning or ending and the document edges of the margin is “Normal” which occupies the 1-inch space.

 Orientations: Orientation is the page layout, in which the document is displayed or printed. The common types of orientations are Portrait and Landscape. 

Size: Choose different page sizes in a word document based on your requirement. The default page size of a page is 8.5×11 inches, called Letter size.

 Columns: Splitting (dividing) the text vertically in the pages called, columns. These include one column, two columns, three columns, left columns and right columns.

 Breaks: Adding the new section breaks to the next pages or the current section on the same page to apply different Headers, Footers, Columns, Watermarks, or other works in the document pages wherever you want.

 Line Numbers: Start each line in a document by using the Line Numbers in the Margin for your further reference even when the content starts with a Bulleted or Numbered List.

Hyphenation: The last word in a line moves down to the next line when it has not had enough space. When you select an Automatic or Manual Hyphenation, arrange some part of a word at the current line and move the remaining part of a word down. It is a great way for uniform spacing and saves spacing on your document page.

Paragraph:

On the layout tab, paragraph options include indent and spacing, these are explained below.

Indent: Indent is how far you want to move the paragraph away from the left margin or from the right margin. Generally, Professional material contains no indent, but some follow.  According to Wikipedia “Professionally printed material typically does not indent the first paragraph, but indents those that follow.”

Spacing: Give more or less space above or below the selected paragraphs based on your requirement.

Arrange:

Position: Positioning is placing an object (picture, shape, etc.) on the page wherever you want. Whether it is on the top left, top centre, top right, middle left, middle centre, middle right, bottom left, bottom centre, or bottom right. 

Wrap Text: Text wrapping means arranging the text around an object. By default, an object arranges in line with text when you insert an object (picture or drawing a shape) into a word document.

Bring Forward: Bring a selected object forward of all other objects. 

Send Backward: Send a selected object backward from all other objects.

Selection Pane: Selection pane is one of the great ways to select, show, hide, and change the order of the objects in the word document.

Align: Placing objects (Pictures, Shapes, Icons, etc.) to margins, edges, or relative to one another in the word document.

Group: Grouping means making more objects together into one object to move, resize, and change their styles and effects as if they were a single object.

 Rotate: Rotating an object is a circular movement in different degrees around a centre point of it. Rotate has various commands to rotate and flip the objects such as Rotate Right 900, Rotate Right 900, Flip vertical, and Flip Horizontal. 

To set the Microsoft Word page orientation of your document, go to File > Page Setup…. You can change your page layout in Word from portrait to landscape layout (and vice versa). The Page Setup dialog opens. Click on the button for either Word portrait or landscape layout orientation.

Hence, What are the commands in page layout tab?

This drop-down contains the commands: Align Left, Align Center, Align Right, Align Top, Align Middle, Align Bottom, Distribute Horizontally, Distribute Vertically, Snap to Grid, Snap to Shape, View Gridlines. Align (Word extras) Align to Page, Align to Margin, Align Selected Objects, View Gridlines and Grid Settings.

Then, What do you mean by page layout? Page layout: Used to create documents with a more custom design, like newsletters, books, or posters. A page layout document is like a canvas that you add text boxes, images, and other objects to, then arrange the objects on the page however you like.

In which tab is the Layout tab? The Layout tab is located at the top of the App Studio interface. It is available only when you are creating a report. The Layout tab is shown in the following image. You can change the margins, orientation, paper type, unit of measurement, and page numbering of a report.

Besides, How do you do a page layout?

Select the pages or paragraphs whose orientation you want to change. Click PAGE LAYOUT > Page Setup dialog box launcher. In the Page Setup box, under Orientation, click Portrait or Landscape. Click the Apply to box, and click Selected text.

How do you use page layout?

Locate and select the Page Layout view command at the bottom of the Excel window. The worksheet will appear in Page Layout view. Select the header or footer you want to modify. In our example, we’ll modify the footer at the bottom of the page.

How do you use layout in word?

Word also allows you to customize the page size in the Page Setup dialog box.

1. From the Layout tab, click Size. Select More Paper Sizes from the drop-down menu.
2. The Page Setup dialog box will appear.
3. Adjust the values for Width and Height, then click OK.
4. The page size of the document will be changed.

How many types of layout of page in MS Word?

Microsoft Word gives you five different views of a document, and each has its own advantages over the others. They are Print Layout, Full Screen Reading, Web Layout, Outline and Draft and you can guess what purpose some of them serve just by their names.

What are the examples of page layout?

Page Layout Examples

• A simple grid.
• A simple responsive grid.
• A responsive layout using named Grid Areas.
• Two column responsive layout with footer.
• Two column responsive layout with footer using Named Grid Lines.
• Two column responsive layout with footer using Named Grid Areas.
• 16 column flexible grid.

What is layout tab?

The Page Layout Tab holds all the options that allow you to arrange your document pages just the way you want them. You can set margins, apply themes, control of page orientation and size, add sections and line breaks, display line numbers, and set paragraph indentation and lines.

Page layout is the term used to describe how each page of your document will appear when it is printed. In Word, page layout includes elements such as the margins, the number of columns, how headers and footers appear, and a host of other considerations.

What are the features of Page Layout?

Typical page layout decisions include:

• Deciding on the number and size of columns and gutters (gaps between columns)
• Placement of intentional whitespace.
• Size and position of images and figures.
• Size of page margins.
• Use of color printing or spot color for emphasis.

What is Layout in MS Word?

Page layout is the term used to describe how each page of your document will appear when it is printed. In Word, page layout includes elements such as the margins, the number of columns, how headers and footers appear, and a host of other considerations.

What is the design tab in Word?

Design tab. The Design tab includes table formatting, cell and table borders, arranging the table on the page, and the size of the table.

What are the 4 basic layout types?

There are four basic layout types: process, product, hybrid, and fixed position.

What are the features of page layout?

Typical page layout decisions include:

• Deciding on the number and size of columns and gutters (gaps between columns)
• Placement of intentional whitespace.
• Size and position of images and figures.
• Size of page margins.
• Use of color printing or spot color for emphasis.

How many groups are in the page layout tab?

The Page Layout Tab consists of five major groups: Themes, Page Setup, Scale to Fit, Sheet Options, and Arrange.

What is web layout in MS Word?

Web Layout view is designed to show you what your document would like if you intend to publish it as a webpage. It also serves to display a compact version of your document without margins and page breaks so you can view more content on the screen at one time.

What are the types of page layout?

Broadly page layout can be classified in 10 categories.

• Mondrian Layout.
• Circus Layout.
• Multi Panel Layout.
• Silhouette Layout.
• Big-Type Layout.
• Alphabet-Inspired Layout.
• Copy Heavy Layout.
• Frame Layout.

What is layout use?

A layout defines the structure for a user interface in your app, such as in an activity. All elements in the layout are built using a hierarchy of View and ViewGroup objects. A View usually draws something the user can see and interact with.

How many types of page layout are there?

Types of layout can be classified as magazine layout, advertising layout, static, dynamic, adaptive or responsive.

What is the function of layout?

The basic objective of layout is to ensure a smooth flow of work, material, and information through a system.

Why do we use Arrange group in the Page Layout tab answer?

Answer: Arrange Group: The last group in the Page Layout Tab is Arrange. This is primary used with pictures or images. Once you have such an element in your workbook, you can then use Arrange commands to position the item relative to your data.

Why is there no Design tab on Word?

Word online currently does not natively have a ‘Design’ tab. If you have an Add-in installed that creates buttons in the ‘Design’ tab, you will see the design tab appear.

What is the importance of Design tab?

The Design tab consists of groups of commands that you can use create, modify, manipulate, dimension, and analyze geometry. Use the Clipboard commands to cut, copy, and paste entities in a layout.

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Page layout is the term used to describe how each page of your document will appear when it is printed. In Word, page layout includes elements such as the margins, the number of columns, how headers and footers appear, and a host of other considerations. As you design your pages, you can use the tools that Word puts at your disposal in this regard.

Tips, Tricks, and Answers

The following articles are available for the ‘Page Layout’ topic. Click the
article»s title (shown in bold) to see the associated article.

  
Adding Page Numbers
Ever want to add page numbers to your document? Word allows you to control many aspects of page numbering. Here’s how to add page numbers easily.

  
Adding Page Numbers in Headers or Footers
While Word has a default format for page numbers, you can design and specify how you want them to appear in your document. Headers and footers make this possible and this tip explains how.

  
An Exact Number of Lines Per Page
For some purposes, you may need to fit an exact number of lines on a printed page. This may be easier said than done, as it can often seem that Word is working against you. Here’s how to make sure that you get exactly what you need.

  
Automatic Page Numbers across Multiple Documents
Word allows you to specify the starting page number for a document, which comes in handy if you have multiple documents you need to print in sequential order. This tip discusses how you can set page numbers to automatically «flow» from one document to another.

  
Automatic Page Numbers in New Documents
If you want to have page numbers in your documents, by default, the easiest solution is to make your changes in templates. Then you can create new documents based on the template that contains the page numbers.

  
Changing Page Margins
Part of determining page layout is to specify the size of the margins that surround the text on a page. Word allows you to easily modify the margins used on your pages.

  
Changing the Starting Page Number
Word normally numbers pages in a document starting at one and extending as far as the number of pages you have. If you want, you can adjust a starting page number for any section in your document. It’s easy to do, as explained here.

  
Creating Point Pages
Want to add a page, with a different page number, in Word without affecting the entire document? The solution is a bit tricky, but worth the effort.

  
Creating Sideheads
A sidehead can be used as a layout element for a document. You can create sideheads in a document by using text boxes, as described in this tip.

  
Decreasing Space between Body Text and Footer Text
Figuring out how you want the text in your document to appear on the printed page can sometimes be a bit perplexing. Word provides many options that can affect that appearance. This tip focuses on settings that affect the distance between body text and footer text.

  
Default Font for Page Numbers
Page numbers are a common addition to documents, and a great aid to readers. If you want to easily format page numbers, you need to understand how Word formats them. This tip explains the best ways to get the formatting you want.

  
Determining Page Layout
Getting your document onto paper is the whole purpose of word processing. Here are some concepts that are important when considering how your page should be laid out.

  
Eliminating «Before Spacing» at the Top of a Page
When formatting paragraphs in Word, you have several options to adjust the spacing before, within, and at the end of each paragraph. Here’s how to eliminate the extra space that can sometimes appear at the top of a page.

  
Footnotes in Two Columns
When laying out how your printed pages will look, you might want to place your footnotes into more than one column. The best way to approach this issue depends on the version of Word you are using.

  
Generating a PDF that Uses CMYK Colors
Getting a Word document into a PDF format that a commercial printer can use can be challenging. This tip examines just one challenge that can be faced—getting your images to use the CMYK color model.

  
Getting a Proper Total Page Count
Word allows you to insert dynamic page numbers within your document. With some page number formatting, though, it is difficult to figure out how to get exactly the page numbers you want.

  
Leaving Even Pages Blank
Want to print your document only on odd-numbered pages in a printout? There are a couple of things you can try, as detailed in this tip.

  
Limiting Document Page Count
Do you need to have your document fit within a certain number of pages? This can be close to impossible to do within Word; you actually may need to consider other software to get the job done.

  
Margin Notes in Word
Some types of documents rely upon margin notes to the left or right of your main text. Getting these to appear in Word can be tricky, as there is no built-in function that creates them. This tip discusses one approach you can use, which involves tables.

  
Missing Page Break Indicator
Enter a page break in Word, and that page break may not appear on the screen as you expect it to appear. This has to do with how Word inserts the page break in the document, as described in this tip.

  
No Space Before at the Top of a Page
Want to make sure that Word handles space before a paragraph correctly when the paragraph is at the top of a page? Check the things discussed in this tip and you’ll get just the spacing you want.

  
Odd Page Numbers Disappearing
Page numbers in printed pages are often a necessary part of formatting a document. What do you do if your printed output doesn’t include some of the page numbers you expect? Here’s a short discussion on what could cause this type of problem and how to fix it.

  
Preventing Straggling Heads
Undoubtedly you will want to format your document so that headings stay with the paragraph that follows the heading. Here’s how to format your headings so Word takes care of this automatically.

  
Printing A4 on Letter Size Paper
For those around the world using the metric system, the standard size for many documents is referred to as an A4 page. If you aren’t part of the metric world, you may wonder how to get your A4 documents printed on letter-size paper without affecting pagination of the document. This tip explains how.

  
Quickly Displaying the Page Setup Dialog Box
The Page Setup dialog box is indispensable in setting up the overall look of your document. You can display the dialog box quickly by knowing where to click on the rulers, as described in this tip.

  
Selecting a Paper Size
Most of the time we print on whatever is a standard paper size for our area, such as letter size or A4 paper. However, Word allows you to select all sorts of paper sizes. Here’s how you specify the size you want to use.

  
Starting a New Section on an Odd Page Number
A common pagination convention used in publishing is for new chapters (and sometimes new sections) to start on an odd-numbered page. Word makes such pagination easy; just follow the steps outlined in this tip.

  
Two Page Numbering Schemes in the Same Document
Word is great at numbering pages if you only need a single, consistent numbering scheme through the document. If you need two separate numbering schemes, you need to apply some workarounds described in this tip.

  
Understanding Page Sizes
When you create a document, you need to be concerned about the final size of the page you will be creating. Word supports a wide variety of page sizes, and you can change them—«at any time—«by using the techniques in this tip.

  
Understanding the Gutter Margin
Most everyone knows that Word allows you to set top, bottom, left, and right margins for your document. There is another type of margin that may be helpful, as well. Known as the gutter margin, it has a very specific purpose in your page layout.

  
Using a Single-Column Heading in a Multi-Column Layout
Want different numbers of columns all on the same page? Word makes it easy to use, for instance, a heading that uses a single column even though the majority of the page is more than one column. Here’s how to accomplish the design.

  
Using Chapter Numbers with Page Numbers
Do you need to add page numbers that include, as well, a chapter number? It’s relatively easy to do, as described in this tip.

  
Using Continued Lines
You can create a special header and footer page numbering scheme by using nested fields. This tip shows an example of how you can use the fields to calculate the next page number and to identify the last page of the document.

  
Watermarks in Columns
If you are creating small flyers (two per page), you may want to include a watermark graphic in the background of each of the flyers. Here’s some ideas on how you can accomplish this task.