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: Transposing Two Paragraphs.
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:
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:
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.
Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2021 or Microsoft 365. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word Step by Step today!
When you select text with the mouse, Word usually selects entire words for you. If you don't want to do this, you can use ...
Discover MoreWord allows you to place text in multiple text boxes and have that text flow from one text box to another. This tip ...
Discover MoreEditing text to turn regular words into hyphenated phrases can be a real bother. The chore can become a breeze if you ...
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