Word: How to write in columns

In order to increase the readability of a text, it can make sense to divide it into columns. We'll show you how to write in columns with Word here.

Create text columns in Word

With just a few clicks, you can create a page layout with text columns in Word. That's how it works:

Select the "Page layout" tab.
Click on "Columns" in the "Page Setup" area.
In the drop-down menu, you either select one of the preset column layouts, or you configure your individual columns under "Other columns ...".

The "Columns" dialog box offers all the parameters you need to adjust the columns to suit your individual needs. You have the following options:

Choose one of the presets or set the number of columns manually.
In order to define the width of the individual columns and their distance from each other via the input fields, deactivate the checkmark at "Same column width".
If you want Word to set up intermediate lines between the columns, check the corresponding box.
In the "Apply for" drop-down menu, you specify the document area for which the settings should apply. You can choose between the entire document and the section before or after the cursor position.

This practical tip was carried out under Word 2010 and Word 2013. We have more tips and tricks around Microsoft Word here.