Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007 and 2010. 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: Moving Text Using the Mouse.
Word incorporates many different tools you can use to edit your document. Perhaps one of the least used, but most unique methods of editing your document uses the mouse entirely. You can use your mouse to move text, the same way you would move another element, such as a graphic. To move text with your mouse, you need to first ensure that the feature is enabled. To do this, follow these steps if you are using Word 2007:
Figure 1. The advanced options of the Word Options dialog box.
Once enabled, you can use the mouse to move text by following these steps:
If you want to simply copy your text (instead of actually moving it) you can hold down the Ctrl key while using the mouse to drag the selection.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (7125) applies to Microsoft Word 2007 and 2010. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Moving Text Using the Mouse.
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2015-11-08 22:28:46
Shailaja
The drag and drop option is ticked in advanced options. Still this does not work. I was using this feature till yesterday. Don't know what has happened since then. Do help.
2015-07-28 19:07:30
Shelley
I wish you had more info on how to move the text.
2014-10-18 09:41:47
Ibrahim
Thanks for this article.
Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007 and 2010. 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: 
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