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

The term "alignment" generally specifies the appearance and orientation of the edges of a paragraph -- left-aligned text, right-aligned text, centered text, or "justified" text (aligned evenly from left to right margins). In left-aligned -- the most common alignment -- the left edge of the paragraph is flush with the left margin.

Additionally, "vertical alignment" determines the up/down position of text within a defined space in the document -- such as placement of a title on a section-break page. 

  1. Select the text that you want to align.

  2. On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, select Align Left or Align Right .

  1. Select the text that you want to center.

  2. On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, select Center .

  1. Select the text that you want to center.

  2. On the Layout or Page Layout tab, select the Dialog Box Launcher Dialog box button in the Page Setup group, and then select the Layout tab.

  3. In the Vertical alignment box, select Center.

  4. In the Apply to box, click Selected text, and then select OK.

When you "justify" text in a Word document, you give your text straight edges on both sides of the paragraph. Justifying extends each line of your text from the left margin to the right margin. Justifying text might make the last line of text in a paragraph considerably shorter than the other lines. 

  1. Select the text you want to justify. 

  2. On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, select Justify .

Tips: 

  • In the Paragraph group, select the Dialog Box Launcher Dialog box button, and select the Alignment drop-down menu to set your justified text.

    You can open the Paragraph dialog box by clicking the Expand icon.

    In the Paragraph dialog box, sent the direction of the alignment.
  • You can also use the keyboard shortcut, Ctrl + J to justify your text.

  1. On the Insert tab, in the Pages group, select Cover Page.

    Word Ribbon Image

  2. Select the cover page that you want.

    A cover page is always added to the beginning of the open document.

See also

Adjust indents and spacing

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