Word have two columns

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In this article, we will demonstrate you 3 effective ways to create a two-column Word document where the first column text is independent of the second one.

Naturally, when we create a document in columns, the text of the first column is always linked to that of the next one on the same page. Yet, in some cases, we may need to connect it to the first column text on next page. For example, to compile a translation work in bilateral languages will need to set the source contents and targeted translation in parallel columns on one page. Besides, some people could just prefer to make notes on the column next to the body text.

Luckily, the following 3 methods will enable you to achieve that goal.

Method 1: Insert a Table

1. First and foremost, click “Insert” tab.
2. Then click “Table”.
3. On the drop-down menu, choose a table in size of one row and two columns.
4. Next, click the plus sign on the upper-left corner to select the table.
5. Right click and choose “Table Properties”.
6. Now click “Row” tab first.
7. And ensure the “Specify height” box is cleared and the “Allow row to break across pages” box is checked.
8. Then click “OK”.
9. You can click and drag the line between 2 columns to adjust the column width.
10. Then select the table again.
11. Right click and choose “AutoFit”.
12. Then choose “Fixed Column Width” on the extend menu.
13. If you want no border for the table, just select it and click “Borders” under “Design” tab. Then choose “No Border”.

Method 2: Insert Linked Text Boxes

1. First off, open a new document.
2. Then click “Insert” and click “Blank Page” to insert a new page.
3. Now go back to the first page and click “Text Box” under “Insert” tab.
4. Choose “Draw Text Box”.
5. Next draw 2 text boxes on the first page, with one on the left and another on the right. Here we just name them A1 and B1.
6. Repeat step 2 to insert another new page that is page 3. This is to guarantee that you can always to insert a new page on a blank page without cut the link between text boxes.
7. On page 2, draw 2 text boxes. Here we name them A2 and B2.
8. Make sure all text boxes are empty. Now click on text box A1 and then click “Create Link” under “Format” tab.
9. You shall observe that the cursor changes to a shape like teapot. Go to click on the text box you want to link. In this case, it’s text box A2. And then use the same way to link text boxes on the other side, such as B1 and B2. When the first text box is full, contents will automatically flow to the linked one.
10. To remove box lines, you can right click on text box line and choose “Format Shape”. Then choose “No line” under “Line Color” and close the “Format Shape” dialog box.

Method 3: Use Text Box in a Two-column Document

For those documents which have the final contents settled, you can take method 3.

1. At first, click “Page Setup” tab and then click “Columns”.
2. Next choose “Two” to set the document in 2 columns.
3. Now put cursor at the end of the first column on the first page and click “Insert” tab.
4. Then click “Page Break”. You shall see the second column text on first page just jump to the left on the second page, leaving the right side of the first page in blank.
5. Apply the same way to move the second column on second page to the left side on the third page, and so on. The aim is to keep the right side of all pages in empty.
6. Then you can insert text box on the right side of each page and link them by taking steps in method 2.

Manage Long Word Documents

Due to all reasons, processing long documents is inevitable in office work. Since we know Word is susceptible to corruption, long files just increase its risk of being compromised. Thus, to back up files on a regular routine seems never more important. It allows you to turn to the latest version of data in case Word damage happens.

Author Introduction:

Vera Chen is a data recovery expert in DataNumen, Inc., which is the world leader in data recovery technologies, including corrupt Excel xls fix and pdf repair software products. For more information visit www.datanumen.com

Most books present their content as a single column on their pages. You read one page and move on to the other. Many magazines and newspapers present their content in columns. Here, you read one column to the bottom of the page, then proceed to the top of the neighboring column on the same page.

Another use of pages with columnar text is when presenting a translation. One column represents the original language, while the neighboring column carries the translation.

The difference is after reading the first column, you proceed to the first column on the next page. Likewise, the second column on one page connects to the second column on the next page.

Sometimes, it is necessary to leave a part of the page blank for others to add notes or place comments. A page with two columns helps.

Word allows making two or more columns on a page in a document. You can use three different methods for making columns in a Word document. They satisfy all the requirements above. We will show you how to make the columns by 3 mehods.

• Inserting a table
• Inserting linked text boxes
• Inserting columns

Let us start.

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Method #1: Make two columns by inserting a table.

Step #1: Open a new document

Open a new Word document. 

Click on the Insert tab on the top menu bar to change the ribbon.

Step #2: Insert a table

In the Tables section, click on the Table icon to open the Insert Table dialog.

Hover the mouse cursor over the second square in the Table dialog.

A table with two cells will appear on the page.

Click the second square to fix the 2×1 table on the page.

Step #3: Change table properties

Hover the mouse pointer near the top to the left side of the table.

Click on the cross icon that appears. This will select the entire table.

Right click to open a menu. Click on Table Properties.

This opens the Table Properties dialog.

In Table Properties, click on Row. This opens the Row dialog.

Under Size, click on Specify height to ensure there is no tick-mark inside the square next to it.

Under Options, click on Allow row to break across pages to ensure a tick-mark appears within the square next to it.

Click on Ok to apply the choices you made.

Step #4: Adjust column width

Hover the mouse pointer over the divider between the two columns in the table.

The cursor changes into a double arrow.

Hold the left mouse button down and drag the divider to the approximate center of the table.

Step #5: Fix the column width

Select the table. Right click to open a menu.

Click on Auto Fit. This will open three choices. Click on Fixed Column Width.

You can now enter text in the two columns.

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Method #2: Make two columns by inserting linked text boxes.

Step #1: Open a new document

Open a new Word document.

Click on the Insert tab on the top menu bar to change the ribbon.

In the Pages section, click on Blank Page to insert a new page.

Return to the first page.

Step #2: Draw a text box

Under Insert, and in the Text section, click on the Text Box icon.

This will open the Built-in selection for various types of text boxes.

Click on Draw Text Box.

The cursor will change to a large cross.

Place the cross on the top left side of the page.

Keep the left mouse button pressed down and drag the cross diagonally to the middle of the page.

Word will draw a box on the page.

Step #3: Draw the second text box

Repeat Step #2 and draw a second text box next to the first.

Step #4: Insert a new page

Follow Step #1 to insert another new page. Now we have three pages with the first one containing two text boxes. This step allows you to enter new pages without cutting the link between text boxes.

Step #5: Draw two boxes on page #2

Follow Step #2 and Step #3 to draw two additional text boxes on page #2. Now we have three pages with two empty text boxes each in page #1 and in page #2.

For reference, we will name the two text boxes on page #1 as A1 and A2, and the two text boxes on page #2 as B1 and B2.

Step #6: Create link between boxes on the left side

Select text box A1 on page #1.

Click on the Format tab on the top menu bar to change the ribbon.

In the section Text, Click on Create Link. The cursor changes to resemble a coffee mug.

Place the coffee mug cursor inside text box B1 on page #2 and click. This will link text box A1 to B1.

Step #7: Create link between boxes on the right side

Follow Step #6 to create link between text boxes A2 and B2.

Now, you can enter text into the text boxes. Once A1 fills up, text will overflow into B1. Likewise, overflowing text from A2 will appear in B2.

Step #8: Remove outline from text boxes (optional)

Select a text box from which you want to remove the outline.

Right click to open some choices.

Click on Outline to open some more choices.

Click on No Outline. Click anywhere outside the text box to remove the outline.

Repeat Step #8 to remove outline from other text boxes of your choice.

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Method #3: Make two columns by inserting columns

Step #1: Open a new document

Open a new Word document.

Click on the Layout tab on the top menu bar to change the ribbon.

Step #2: Create Columns

In the Page Setup section, click on Columns.

This will open the Columns selection.

Click on Two to create two columns. The horizontal scale splits to accommodate the two columns.

Now, whatever you type in the page will first fill the left column and then fill the second column. Then the text will overflow to the next page, following the same two column patterns in the previous page.

Note: Method #3 applies to existing Word documents also for changing it to columnar text.

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Conclusion

Change your document to a columnar layout. Follow our step-by-step approach to make columns in your Word document.

Learn how to create two columns in Google Docs.

You may find yourself needing to separate your document, or at least part of it, into parallel columns, the good thing is Word makes it easy to do so. When separating the text into columns, it flows from one column and continues to the other one next to it. You can also separate just a part of your text. This is useful for writing a newsletter, a scientific paper, or just separating your content and making it easier to read.

So, in this guide, you will learn how to create columns in Word using different methods.

How to make two columns in Microsoft Word

With this method, you will be able to split your Word document into two separate columns.

1. First, we have to open the document we want to edit. It can be a blank document but it needs to have some text first to separate it into columns.
2. Select the text that you want to separate into columns.
   
   
3. Click on the Layout tab (Formerly Page Layout for Word 2007 and 2010)
   
   
4. Click the Columns button on the Page Setup section
   
   
5. This opens up a list that lets you select the number of columns you want to separate your text. We will choose two columns.
   
   
6. Once you have selected two columns, Word will separate your text into two columns.
   
   
7. The text you write in will go from the left column to the right.

How to make three columns or more in Microsoft Word

Sometimes you are in the need of separating your text into more than two columns. The amazing thing about Word is that it lets you separate it into three or more columns. Here are the steps for doing so:

1. Open up the document you want to edit
2. Select the text you want to separate into columns
   
   
3. Click on the Layout tab (Formerly Page Layout for Word 2007 and 2010)
   
   
4. Click the Columns button on the Page Setup section
   
5. If you need to separate the text into three columns, click on Three, and the text will be separated into 3 columns.
   
   
6. If you need to have more than 3 columns, click on More columns
   
7. There you will be able to manually enter the number of columns you want. 
   
   Pro tip: In this section, you can also specify the Width and Spacing of the columns
8. You can select if you want to apply the columns to the selected text only, the whole document, or from a specific point forward.
   
   

Now you may be asking, “how do I control where the column ends?”. Well, Microsoft Word has a function that lets you do that, and it’s called Break. Let’s break it down

How to make a column break on Microsoft Word

If you are using columns and want the text you have to start atop the next column, you can use a column break. Here are the steps

1. Click on the beginning of the text you want to start the next column
   
   
2. Click the Layout tab (formerly known as Page Layout for Word 2007 and Word 2010)
   
   
3. In the Page Setup section, you will find the Break button. This will show you the different options for Page breaks and section breaks. In the Page break portion, click on Column
   
   
4. Now the column will start at the point you have selected
   
   

And that’s it! You are now a pro at creating columns in Microsoft Word. You can repeat these steps anytime you need them.

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