Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 4, 2021)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
As you are developing a document, there may be times when you want to transpose two adjacent paragraphs. One way is to use the Shift+Alt+Down Arrow or Shift+Alt+Up Arrow shortcuts to adjust paragraph order. If you want to actually transpose two paragraphs, however, and you need to do that quite often, you could accomplish the task using a macro.
The following macro will make short work of the task. All you need to do is position the insertion point between two paragraphs you want to transpose, and then issue this macro:
Sub TransposeParagraphs() Selection.MoveUp Unit:=wdParagraph, _ Count:=1, Extend:=wdExtend Selection.MoveLeft Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=1 Selection.MoveDown Unit:=wdParagraph, _ Count:=1, Extend:=wdExtend Selection.Range.Cut Selection.MoveDown Unit:=wdParagraph, Count:=1 Selection.Range.Paste End Sub
If you position the insertion point inside a paragraph instead of between paragraphs, the macro assumes you want to transpose the current paragraph with the following paragraph.
Note:
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (9142) 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: Transposing Two Paragraphs.
Do More in Less Time! An easy-to-understand guide to the more advanced features available in the Microsoft 365 version of Word. Enhance the quality of your documents and boost productivity in any field with this in-depth resource. Complete your Word-related tasks more efficiently as you unlock lesser-known tools and learn to quickly access the features you need. Check out Microsoft 365 Word For Professionals For Dummies today!
Some people like to have one space between sentences, while others prefer two. For those in the latter camp, you may ...
Discover MoreDisplaying non-printing characters can help you better understand the formatting and contents of your documents. What do ...
Discover MoreWant a quick and easy way to move text (or other document elements) from one place to another in your document? Check out ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
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.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments