Applies ToWord for Microsoft 365 Word 2024 Word 2021 Word 2019 Word 2016

Make pictures, charts, or other objects align on the page, or with each other, by using “snap to” commands.

Snap to options only work in Print Layout.

Turn on the snap-to options

  1. Select a chart, picture, or object in the document.

  2. On the right end of the ribbon, select Format > Align > Grid Settings.

    Word Grid and Guides dialog box

    The Grid and Guides dialog box appears.

  3. Turn on one or both of these options:

    Option

    Description

    Snap objects to grid when the gridlines are not displayed

    Positions an object to the closest intersection of the grid even when the grid is not visible.

    Snap objects to other objects

    Make an object align with other objects as you're dragging it onscreen.

Turn off the snap-to options

  1. Click a chart, picture, or object in the document.

  2. On the right end of the ribbon, select Format > Align > Grid Settings.

    The Grid and Guides dialog box appears.

  3. To turn off the Snap objects to grid when the gridlines are not displayed or Snap objects to other objects settings, clear the respective box.

Adjust the size of the grid

You can change the distance between gridlines shown on the page by adjusting horizontal and vertical spacing.

  1. Select a chart, picture, or object in the document.

  2. On the right end of the ribbon, select Format > Align > Grid Settings.

  3. Under Grid Settings, change the measurement in the Horizontal spacing or Vertical spacing box.

    You can type a measurement in the box or use the up or down arrow on the right side of the box.

Tips about the grid and guides

  • To temporarily override the snap-to options, hold down ALT while you drag the chart, picture, or object.

  • If you want the current settings in the Grid and Guides dialog box to be the default settings for all documents, click Set As Default.

  • By default, shapes and other objects will snap to the nearest intersection of gridlines only if the grid is visible. Change that by checking the Snap objects to grid when the gridlines are not displayed box.

Show or hide gridlines

Draw or delete a line or connector

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