Set text direction and position in a shape or text box in PowerPoint
Applies To
PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 for Mac PowerPoint 2024 PowerPoint 2024 for Mac PowerPoint 2021 PowerPoint 2021 for Mac PowerPoint 2019 PowerPoint 2019 for Mac PowerPoint 2016In PowerPoint, text boxes and most shapes can include text in them. The text can be positioned horizontally or vertically, and it can appear on one line or wrap to multiple lines.
Video: Learn how to arrange the text in a shape or text box. You can flip text or rotate text, and you can align it vertically and horizontally:
Specify text direction in a shape or text box
In a shape or text box, you can change the direction in which text is read. That is, you can pivot text 90 or 270 degrees so that it appears sideways.
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Right-click the edge of the shape or text box.
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On the shortcut menu, select Format Shape.
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In the Format Shape pane, click Size/Layout & Properties
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Under Text Box , select the option that you want in the Text direction list.
The Stacked option is available in PowerPoint and Excel, but not Word.
Rotate (mirror) text in a shape or text box
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Insert a text box or shape in your document, and then type and format your text.
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Right-click the box or shape and select Format Shape.
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In the Format Shape pane, under Shape Options, select Effects.
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Under 3-D Rotation , in the X Rotation or Y Rotation box, enter 180 .
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(Optional) If your text box becomes filled with a color, you can remove the color in the Format Shape pane. Under Shape Options , click the Fill & Line tab
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(Optional) To remove the text box outline, right-click the text box, click Outline in the mini toolbar that appears, and choose No Outline .
More positioning options
Select a heading below to open it and see the detailed instructions.
To change the horizontal alignment of a single paragraph or line:
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Click in the paragraph or line of text that you want to modify.
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On the Home tab (or the Message tab in Outlook), click the horizontal alignment option that you want.
To change the horizontal alignment of all text in a shape or text box:
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Click the border of the shape or text box to select it.
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On the Home tab, (or the Message tab in Outlook), click the horizontal alignment option you want.
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Right-click the border of the shape or text box.
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On the shortcut menu, click Format Shape .
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In the Format Shape pane, click Size/Layout & Properties
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Select the option that you want in the Vertical alignment list.
When text wraps , it automatically continues on a new line as it reaches the right border of the shape or text box.
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Right-click the border of the shape or text box that contains the text you want to wrap.
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On the shortcut menu, select Format Shape .
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In the Format Shape pane, select Size/Layout & Properties
The margin is the distance between the text and the outer border of the enclosing shape or text box.
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Right-click the border of the shape or text box.
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On the shortcut menu, select Format Shape .
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In the Format Shape pane, click Size/Layout & Properties
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Specify a measurement in inches or millimeters (mm) for any of the following margins:
Margin
Description
Left margin
Distance between the left border of a shape and the leftmost text
Right margin
distance between the right border of a shape and the rightmost text
Top margin
distance between the top border of a shape and the uppermost text
Bottom margin
distance between the bottom border of a shape and the lowest text
You can automatically increase the size of a shape or text box vertically so that the text fits inside it.
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Right-click the border of the shape or text box.
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On the shortcut menu, click Format Shape.
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In the Format Shape pane, click Layout & Properties
Tip: You can reduce the size of the text to fit it in the shape or text box by clicking Shrink text on overflow .
See Also
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