Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 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: Selecting a Column or Row in a Table.

Selecting a Column or Row in a Table

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 30, 2026)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365

There are two ways to select a column within a table:

Position the insertion point in any cell within the column, display the Layout tab of the ribbon, then click Select | Select Column.
Move the mouse cursor just above the column you want to select. It will turn into a downward pointing arrow. Click on the left mouse button.

The two ways to select a row within a table are very similar:

Position the insertion point in any cell within the row, display the Layout tab of the ribbon, then click Select | Select Row.
Move the mouse cursor just to the left of the row you want to select, and then click on the left mouse button.

Note that the above references to "Layout tab of the ribbon" refers to the Layout tab that appears near the right side of the ribbon, to the right of the Table Design tab. This secondary Layout tab appears only after placing the insertion point within the table.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (10341) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Selecting a Column or Row in a Table.

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 seven more than 2?

2022-06-18 11:22:41

NELSON DAVID CARVAJAL ALCARAZ

Hello ! Allen, there is also another way to select rows or columns that becomes tedious again. Through the keyboard shortcuts, modifying some default and assigning the respective command usually starts by (TableSelectRow) (TableSelectColumn) through the word options. Finally, as word allows continuous shortcuts for example tctrl+),1. And ctrl+),2. In this case, the commas (,) represent that one key can be played after the other without being pressed at the same time. This way I can have several table shortcuts like autofit among others. Customize Keyboard, accessed from File > Options > Customize Ribbon. Greetings Allen, I have been following you for two (2) years and I admire your work, thanks for sharing your knowledge and making us work more efficiently.

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