Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Office 365. 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: Jumping between Columns.
If you are working with multiple columns in your document, you may need to jump from column to column at times. The standard way to do this (using the keyboard) is to use the Alt key in conjunction with the up and down arrow keys. If you press Alt+Down Arrow, the insertion point is moved to the top of the next column. If you press Alt+Up Arrow, the insertion point goes to the top of the previous column.
You should note that this feature only works if you are viewing your document in Print Layout View. Plus, if there are only a partial number of columns visible on the screen, this movement method will only cycle between the visible columns. For instance, let's say that you have your document formatted for three columns. If you are viewing the last page of the document, there could be one, two, or three columns visible. (You might not have enough text to fill up three columns on that last page.) In this case, you will only cycle between the columns on the screen.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (9596) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Office 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Jumping between Columns.
Do More in Less Time! Are you ready to harness the full power of Word 2013 to create professional documents? In this comprehensive guide you'll learn the skills and techniques for efficiently building the documents you need for your professional and your personal life. Check out Word 2013 In Depth today!
You can use the Columns tool, available on the Page Layout or Layout tab (depending on which version of Word you are ...
Discover MoreNeed to have multiple columns in a page layout that normally consists of a single column? You can change the column ...
Discover MoreWant to switch the number of columns used for your text, in the middle of a page? You can do this very easily by ...
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.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2020 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Office 365. 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: 
Comments