How to Create Vertical Type in a Word Document

Microsoft Word is a word processing program that provides the option of vertical text direction, and you can also rotate vertical text to face the right or left side of the document. The vertical text option is not apparent when browsing font and alignment selections because it is within the formatting tools for text boxes. A text box is necessary for vertical typing, but you can hide its borders to blend it with the rest of the document. Create vertical text in Microsoft Word with either ordinary fonts or WordArt.

Instructions

Vertical Text in Word

1. Click the “Insert” tab and select “Text Box” from the menu to add a text box to your document. Place the text box where you wish to insert vertical text.

2. Click inside of the text box and type your text.

3. Apply any desired font changes, such as italics, by highlighting the text with the cursor and choosing options from the Font menu.

4. Right-click the border of the text box, select "Format Shape" and choose "Text Box" from the navigation pane on the left.

5. Choose "Vertical" in the Text Direction drop-down menu. Adjust any other text box attributes. Click "Close."

6. Remove the text box frame by clicking the "Format" tab, selecting "Shape Outline" in the Drawing Tools section and choosing "No Outline."

Vertical WordArt

1. Click the “Insert” tab and select "WordArt."

2. Select a WordArt style, enter your text in the WordArt box and click “OK.”

3. Click the newly inserted WordArt on your document to bring formatting options to the screen. Click “Format” for WordArt options.

4. Click “WordArt Vertical Text,” which is the icon of an uppercase A and two lowercase Bs, to change the WordArt to vertical alignment.

References

• Microsoft: How to Insert and Modify WordArt Objects in Microsoft Word
• Microsoft: Set Text Direction and Position in a Shape or Text Box
• Microsoft: Add, Copy, or Delete a Text Box
• Microsoft: Change or Remove a Border From a Text Box or Shape