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: Working with Table Columns and Rows.

Working with Table Columns and Rows

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated May 29, 2021)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021

As you work with tables in Word, there will be times when you need to add columns to a table. To insert a column or row, follow these steps:

Select the column or row adjacent to where you want the column or row added.
Make sure the Layout tab of the ribbon is displayed.
In the Rows & Columns group, choose one of the Columns or Rows options, depending exactly where you want the column or row inserted. (If you're using Word 2013 or a later version, a dialog box will automatically pop up after selecting the row or column. From there you'll be able to select Insert and choose between the different options.)

Another way to add rows is simply to move the insertion point to the very last cell marker on a row. (This is the marker to the right of the last column. It is clearly visible if you have non-printing characters displayed.) You can then press Enter and a new row appears.

To delete a column or row in a table, start by selecting the row or column you want to delete. Then, display the Layout tab of the ribbon and click the Delete tool in the Rows & Columns group. From the resulting submenu, choose the deletion option you want applied to the selected rows or columns.

You can also use the Cut tool on the Home tab of the ribbon to remove the column or row you selected.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (9258) 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: Working with Table Columns and Rows.

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 eight more than 9?

2021-05-30 18:56:30

PETER V THOMAS

Woops, Sorry Allen, I didn't read your instructions carefully enough. In the situation you explained Enter certainly works.

2021-05-29 21:40:39

PFL

Enter does it for me. Tab does a different change, but I did not take the time to note the details.

2021-05-29 19:56:06

PETER V THOMAS

Allen, in the section on using the last cell to add a row, don't you mean , press the TAB key rather than the Enter key?

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