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.
You can change the direction of the text, and you can also change the margins of text boxes and shapes for optimal spacing, or resize shapes for a better text fit.
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.
-
Right-click the edge of the shape or text box.
-
On the shortcut menu, select Format Shape.
-
In the Format Shape pane, click Size/Layout & Properties
-
Under Text Box, select the option that you want in the Text direction list.
Rotate (mirror) text in a shape or text box
-
Right-click the box or shape and select Format Shape.
-
In the Format Shape pane, select Effects.
-
Select 3-D Rotation and in the X Rotation or Y Rotation box, enter 180.
-
(Optional) If your text box is filled with a color, you can remove the color in the Format Shape pane. Select Fill & Line
-
(Optional) To remove the text box outline, right-click the text box, select Outline in the mini toolbar that appears, and choose No Outline.
-
Select the paragraph, line of text, shape, or text box that you want to modify.
-
Go to Home and select the horizontal alignment option that you want.
-
Right-click the border of the shape or text box.
-
On the shortcut menu, select Format Shape.
-
In the Format Shape pane, select Size/Layout & Properties
-
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.
-
Right-click the border of the shape or text box that contains the text you want to wrap.
-
On the shortcut menu, select Format Shape.
-
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.
-
Right-click the border of the shape or text box.
-
On the shortcut menu, select Format Shape.
-
In the Format Shape pane, select Size/Layout & Properties
-
Specify a measurement in inches or millimeters (mm) for any of the following margins:
-
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.
-
Right-click the border of the shape or text box.
-
On the shortcut menu, select Format Shape.
-
In the Format Shape pane, select Layout & Properties
Tip: You can reduce the size of the text to fit it in the shape or text box by selecting Shrink text on overflow.
Specify text direction in a shape or text box
-
Control + Click the border of the shape or text box that contains the text, and then select Format Shape.
-
In the Format Shape pane on the right, select Text Options.
-
Select the third icon, Textbox, and then select the option that you want from the Text direction list.
Position text horizontally in a paragraph, text box or shape
-
Click or tap in the paragraph, line of text, shape, or text box that you want to modify.
-
Go to Home, and in the Paragraph group, click the horizontal alignment option that you want.
You can automatically increase the size of a text box or shape vertically so that the text fits inside it.
-
Control + Click the border of the shape or text box that you want to resize, and then select Format Shape.
-
In the Format Shape pane on the right, select Text Options.
-
Select Layout & Properties, and then select the check box next to Resize shape to fit text.
By default, the text wraps automatically as you type in a text box or shape. If you don't want the text to wrap, do the following:
-
Control + Click the shape that contains the text, and then select Format Shape.
-
In the Format Shape pane on the right, select Text Options.
-
Select Layout & Properties, and then clear the check box next to Wrap text in shape.
