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: Detailed Measurements.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated June 17, 2025)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
The ruler, when displayed in Word, is a very helpful tool. However, it would sometimes be very nice to know a bit more than what the ruler can quickly show you. For instance, you can see on the ruler that you have a tab set at three inches, but what if you want to know how far that tab is from the right margin instead of the left?
Word includes a nifty feature that allows you to see exactly where your tabs and margin settings reside on a line. To take advantage of this tool, click on a tab or margin marker on the ruler. Do not release the mouse button, however. Now, click on the right mouse button. You should now be holding down both mouse buttons.
If you move the mouse ever so slightly, you'll notice that the normal ruler measurements disappear and instead there are distance measurements. The measurements outside the margins show how far to the edge of the paper; those inside show how far it is from a tab to both margins.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (7980) 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: Detailed Measurements.
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2021-10-04 04:56:18
Hazel Sweeney
Hi
We have a word template for a standard letterheading that we are looking to set up for our organisation. We have created fields in a section of the document for name, address etc. We would like to lock the fields so noone when we protect the document can then move the field layout all on the section to ensure that this is printed in the correct place for our window envelope Could you give me the name of what I need to apply on word to achieve this please?
2020-05-26 11:23:57
Cynthia
Allen,
Thank you so very much for all your helpful Word information. You're the No. 1 go-to for assistance.
I come from an InDesign/InCopy/points world and am so frustrated with Word. I simply want to know the exact measurement of a header rule but can't for the life of me, figure out how to measure it. Would you please help me?
Thank you.
Cynthia
2019-03-26 13:34:46
Allan
Now works ok in my Word 2007.
2019-03-25 13:01:06
Falk
I use Word 2010 at home and 2016 at work. Both seem to work the same. Surprised, it doesn't work in 2007...
The shift button restricts the mouse movements to remain axis-parallel only, which of course is quite unnecessary for this feature here. In positioning objects it is often rather handy.
2019-03-25 10:37:35
Maggie
You can also accomplish the same thing by holding down the Alt key as you slide the mouse.
2019-03-24 16:32:03
Allan
Left button +Alt+Sft does not work in Word 2007--at least not in mine.
2019-03-23 12:59:46
Falk
I just noticed that you can achieve the same thing by clicking and holding the left mouse button while holding down ALT and SHIFT. This feature exists in PowerPoint as well and helps a lot when fine-adjusting object positions. So you can use this feature in WORD to fine-position your autoforms, to.
Be careful though - ALT+SHIFT, at the same time, also switches through the available set of keyboard language layouts (above the SysTray of the Windows task bar, EN for English, DE for German etc.). So keep an eye out for typing "y" instead of "Z" afterwards. Hit the combination again as often as necessary to get back your desired language keyboard layout.
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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:
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