How to Block Quotes in Word 2007

Adding block quotes in Word requires creating a custom style.

The Microsoft Word 2007 word processing program includes a variety of formatting options, but it doesn't include a pre-installed "block quote" style. Block quotes are generally used in website formatting to indent text to appear in the center of the page. If you need to use block quotes in a Word 2007 document, you must manually change the indentation of a segment of text and save the option as a new Word formatting style.

Instructions

1. Open your Microsoft Word 2007 document and highlight the first paragraph or segment of text you need to appear in block quotes. If you are using a new document, type the text first and highlight it.

2. Navigate to the "Home" tab. Click the arrow icon positioned at the lower right end of the "Paragraph" heading.

3. Use the "up arrow" icon next to the "Left Indentation" entry to set the indentation to "0.5." Set the "Right Indentation" entry to "0.5."

4. Click "OK" to put the paragraph of text in the block quote format. Highlight the block-quoted text again and click the "More" icon in the "Styles" heading.

5. Select the "Save Selection as a New Quick Style" option. Type "Block Quote" or some other identifier for the new style in the "Name" text box and select "OK."

6. Highlight another segment of text you want to put in the block quote style. Click the newly created "Block Quote" option in the "Style" heading to automatically set the text to the block quote formatting.

Tips & Warnings

• Setting the left and right indentation to "0.5" creates the standard block quote formatting of putting the text in the middle of the screen. You may want to slightly offset the block quotes by using a number lower or higher than "0.5." Simply click the up or down arrow keys to change the level of right and left indentation.

• The "Block Quote" style you created will appear in any other new Word document you open on your computer from that point forward. If you no longer need the style to appear in the list of available styles, right-click the "Block Quote" option and choose "Remove from Quick Style Gallery."

References

• Tech Blog: Easily Create Block Quotes in Word 2007
• Microsoft: Style Basics In Word

Resources

• Microsoft: Word Solution Center