If you’re working in Microsoft Word and need to begin typing on a new page, you can just hit ‘Enter’ repeatedly until you reach the bottom of the current one. But this can cause text to shift around when making edits later on.
A much better approach is to use page and section breaks, which provide a quick and simple way to start writing on a new page while maintaining tidy formatting in a document.
A page break is exactly what it sounds like: a break between two pages in a document. To add one in Word 2007 or later, all you need to do is:
Adding a page break.
You can also add a page break by going to the ‘Page Layout’ tab, then selecting ‘Page’ from the dropdown ‘Breaks’ menu. This route also offers additional formatting options, including section breaks, which we’ll look at next.
Section breaks are similar to page breaks, but they add an invisible divide in a document that allows you to apply different formatting to different sections. This is useful if you want to use distinct page numbering styles or chapter headers in different parts of a document.
Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.
To create a section break between pages, you need to:
Adding a section break.
If required, you can also add a section break in the middle of a page by selecting the ‘Continuous’ option, but this would be fairly unusual for an academic document.
Since page and section breaks aren’t usually visible, editing or deleting them can seem tricky. It can also be difficult to edit around them. Luckily, there’s a simple solution:
Show/hide formatting.
This symbol (otherwise known as a ‘pilcrow’ or ‘paragraph mark’) reveals hidden formatting in a document. Once you’ve made any required edits, simply click it again to hide them.
Δ
5-minute read
Promoting a brand means sharing valuable insights to connect more deeply with your audience, and...
6-minute read
If you’re seeking funding to support your charitable endeavors as a nonprofit organization, you’ll need...
9-minute read
Is your content getting noticed? Capturing and maintaining an audience’s attention is a challenge when...
8-minute read
Are you looking to enhance engagement and captivate your audience through your professional documents? Interactive...
7-minute read
Voice search optimization is rapidly shaping the digital landscape, requiring content professionals to adapt their...
Effective professional communication is an important skill for contractors and freelancers navigating remote work environments....