Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Using the Drawing Grid.

Using the Drawing Grid

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated October 12, 2022)

When you are working with Word's drawing tools, you might find it difficult to align objects. Fortunately, there is a drawing feature that you can use to assist you in doing this. You can use the drawing grid to provide a temporary, nonprinting straight edge. In this way you can easily align other objects in your drawing.

Follow these steps to make sure the drawing grid is turned on:

Display the Page Layout tab (or the Layout tab if you are using Word 2016 or a later version) of the ribbon.
Within the Arrange group, click the Align drop-down list. Word displays a list of available commands.
Choose Grid Settings. Word displays the Drawing Grid dialog box (if you are using Word 2007 or Word 2010) or the Grid and Guides dialog box (if you are using Word 2013 or a later version.) (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The Grid and Guides dialog box.

Use the controls in the dialog box to set the specifics of the grid. You can use the controls to specify the horizontal and vertical spacing used in the grid. You should also make sure the Snap Objects to Grid When the Gridlines Are Not Displayed option is selected.
Make sure the Display Gridlines on Screen check box is selected. (You can turn the gridlines on and off later by using the View tab of the ribbon, in the Show group.)
Click on OK.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (5947) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Using the Drawing Grid.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

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What is 3 + 7?

2024-03-14 09:51:53

THANK YOU FOR THIS INFORMATION!
my vertical gridlines were not visible in a document, and googling the problem resulted in many useless results before i found this one. it's such a simple fix but an obscured setting.
thank you, too, for all your info on this site! i rely on your tips regularly!

2019-09-17 16:09:56

Laura

Unfortunately the grid does not display on top of the drawing when I follow your directions. :(

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