Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. 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: Wrapping Text around a Graphic in a Text Box.

Wrapping Text around a Graphic in a Text Box

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated October 8, 2020)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016


4

Doris is trying to put together a newsletter and is using text boxes so she can flow the continuation of an article from the front page to a later page. She wants to use a graphic image with one of the articles, but can't get Word to flow the text around the image within the text box.

The reason that this won't work is because wrapping of text, in Word, is implemented through the interaction of two layers of content: the text layer and the drawing layer. When an object is on the drawing layer, information on the text layer can be wrapped around it. Any text within a text box cannot be wrapped around another object in the text box because both the text and the object are on the same layer—the drawing layer.

This means that if you still want to wrap text around the graphic, you'll need to take a different approach to laying out your newsletter. For instance, you might use multiple text boxes, butted up next to each other, to give the appearance of the text flowing around the graphic.

If you want to stick with a single text box, you could insert a two- or three-column table inside the text box and put the graphic in one of the columns. You can then add text to the other column and it appears to be beside the graphic. You would, of course, need to experiment with the borders and shading of the table to make sure they don't detract from the layout you are trying to achieve.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (10937) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Wrapping Text around a Graphic in a Text Box.

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. ...

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Comments

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What is two less than 9?

2017-01-03 09:19:34

Jennifer Thomas

Microsoft expects you to use Shift+Enter (a line break) for that situation; that way you also avoid the paragraph style attributes (like space after) that also take effect when you press Enter (a paragraph break).

You might try that instead so you can keep the advantage of AutoCorrect and paragraph styles.


2017-01-02 13:58:36

Tony W

Laurel, I believe what your looking for is in the proofing section of the options. Go to options, on the left hand side click on proofing, then on the right click AutoCorrect Options. Make sure your on the AutoCorrect tab and uncheck Capitalize first letter of sentences. The instructions are for Word 2010 for the PC, the version that I'm using.


2016-12-31 18:54:39

Laurel Knapp

Is there a way to disable the automatic feature that capitalizes a word after a manual "enter" to make a new line?

I like to be creative in line lengths and this "capitalizing" feature drives me crazy.

Thanks.


2016-12-31 06:01:14

sarma

Good. We can make our documents very attractive.


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