Insert Text Box in MS Word

A text box in Microsoft Word is a graphical element that allows you to insert and format text within a rectangular or non-rectangular shape. Text boxes are commonly used for a variety of purposes, including adding emphasis to specific text, creating labels, adding side comments, or designing elements within your document. Here’s how to insert and delete a text box in MS Word, step by step:

Inserting a Text Box:

Step 1: Open Your Document: Launch Microsoft Word and open the document where you want to insert a text box.

Step 2: Access the Text Box Tool:

• Go to the “Insert” tab in the ribbon.
• In the “Text” group (or “Text Box” group in older versions), click on “Text Box.” A dropdown menu will appear with options for inserting a text box.

Step 3: Draw the Text Box:

• From the dropdown menu, you can choose to:

• “Draw Text Box”: This option allows you to draw a custom-shaped text box.
• “Simple Text Box”: This inserts a rectangular text box.
• “Vertical Text Box”: This inserts a vertical text box, suitable for Asian languages.
• “Horizontal Text Box”: This inserts a standard horizontal text box.

For Custom-Shaped Text Box (Draw Text Box):

1. Select “Draw Text Box” from the menu.
2. Click and drag your cursor on the document to draw a custom-shaped text box.
3. Release the mouse button when you have the desired text box size and shape.
4. The cursor will now be inside the text box, and you can start typing or paste text into it.

For Rectangular Text Box (Simple Text Box):

1. Select “Simple Text Box” from the menu.
2. Click on the document where you want to place the text box.
3. A rectangular text box will appear, and you can start typing or paste text into it.

Customizing the Text Box: You can format the text box by changing its fill color, border color, border style, text formatting, and more using the options in the “Format” tab or “Format Text Box” pane that appears when the text box is selected.

Deleting a Text Box:

To delete a text box:

1. Click on the text box to select it. You’ll know it’s selected when you see small resizing handles around the box.
2. Press the “Delete” key on your keyboard, or right-click the selected text box and choose “Cut” or “Delete.”

The text box will be removed from your document.

Example Use of a Text Box:

Imagine you’re creating a brochure in MS Word, and you want to add a callout box with a special offer. You can use a text box for this:

1. Insert a text box using the “Draw Text Box” option from the “Insert” tab.
2. Draw the text box on the brochure where you want the callout to appear.
3. Format the text box by changing its fill color to make it stand out, adjust the font size, and add the special offer text.
4. You can also add an arrow shape pointing to the relevant section of the brochure.
5. Position the text box and arrow as needed, and your callout box is ready.

Text boxes are versatile tools that allow you to add and format text in creative ways within your documents. They are particularly useful when you need precise control over text placement and styling.