Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated May 8, 2021)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
When presenting some types of writing, it is very helpful that the last line of each page end at the same vertical position as the other ending lines on other pages. For instance, when working with poetry it is common for the last lines of each page to line up vertically.
If you want to align information vertically in this manner, follow these steps:
Figure 1. The Layout tab of the Page Setup dialog box.
Now the paragraphs on a page are adjusted vertically so they are evenly spaced between the top and bottom margin. This is helpful for poetry, where most paragraphs consist of a single line. It is a bit less helpful for other types of writing, since the Vertical Alignment specification doesn't affect spacing inside a paragraph (between lines), only the spacing between paragraphs.
If your writing requires different length paragraphs and you want increased spacing between actual lines, you will need to experiment with line spacing to get a "look" that matches your needs. Once you settle on the appropriate line spacing, you can define a style that can then be applied to all your paragraphs. When combined with the Vertical Alignment setting already discussed, you may achieve the desired appearance.
Also, you may not like the appearance of your writing when you are using a large page size and your text consists of only a few lines. With justified vertical alignment set, this results in huge white areas between paragraphs. There are only two ways around this: You must either increase the amount of text on the page or decrease the page length.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (13172) 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: Adjusting Bottoms of Pages.
Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2013. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word 2013 Step by Step today!
Using one of the page setup options in Word, you can specify that the paragraphs within the section be vertically aligned ...
Discover MoreVertical lines are even easier to add around a word than are horizontal lines. There are a variety of methods you can use ...
Discover MoreFormal reports look better when they are set up with an introductory cover page. Here's how you can add a cover page in a ...
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