Reference number: CH001033

How do I justify text in Microsoft Word or OpenOffice?

Question:

How do I justify text in Microsoft Word or OpenOffice?

Answer:

Microsoft Word users

You can change the horizontal justification of the text in Microsoft Word by highlighting the text you wish to change and clicking the left, center, or right alignment icons as shown in the picture shown above.

If you wish to change the vertical justification of text follow the steps listed below.

1. Open Microsoft Word
2. Click File and then Page Setup
3. Click the Layout tab
4. Under Vertical alignment click the down arrow and select center, bottom or the alignment you wish to use. If you do not want this setting to affect the whole document change the "Apply to" to selected text.

OpenOffice Writer

You can change the horizontal justification of the text in OpenOffice Writer by clicking on the left, center, or right icons on the toolbar. These icons look similar to those shown in the above example picture of the Microsoft Word.

OpenOffice Writer does not have a feature like Microsoft Word that allows users to easily vertically justify text. However, this can still be done using frames. To do this follow the steps listed below.

1. Open OpenOffice Writer

2. Click Insert

3. Click Frame

4. In the Frame window under Type, change the horizontal and vertical position to center and both to "Entire page."

5. Because the frame will have borders, unless you wish to keep these borders click the borders tab and click None under Style.

6. Once this has been done you'll have a frame in the center of your page, which will allow you to enter any text you wish and have it centered in the middle of your page.

Additional information:

• See our justify definition for related information and links.