2/25/25, 11:49 PM Objective 2: Format Rows, Columns, and Cells in a Table

Objective 2: Format
Rows, Columns, and
Cells in a Table
Use Word’s formatting tools to make your tables attractive and easy to read.
Types of formatting you can add to a table include changing the row height and
the column width, removing or adding borders, increasing or decreasing the
paragraph or line spacing, and enhancing the text.

Word 2: GO! Learn How Video, Objective 2

N OT DISTR
O I B
D

UT
-
©PEARSON

E
.ROJ...
E
UISP
FO

.Q
R

RE

HE
LF
T

PR WI
IVAT
E USE OF
Activity 2.05: Changing the Width of
Table Columns and Using AutoFit

MOS 3.2.4

When you create a table, all of the columns are of equal width. In this Activity,
you will change the width of the columns.

https://plus.pearson.com/products/BRNT-2S3Q1PZPESB/pages/e47473d0-9fca-11ec-8750-821e586cac22?userPreferredType=read&source_from=a… 1/7
2/25/25, 11:49 PM Objective 2: Format Rows, Columns, and Cells in a Table

1. Click to position your insertion point to the left of the word OBJECTIVE

or press to move to the top of your document. With the insertion

point in the first column, on the right end of the ribbon, click the active
Layout tab. In the Cell Size group, notice the Width box, which displays
the width of the active column.

2. Look at the horizontal ruler and locate the 1.5-inch mark. Then, in the

table, in any row, point to the vertical border between the two columns to
display the pointer.

3. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the column border to the left

until the white arrow on the ruler is at approximately 1.5 inches on the
horizontal ruler and then release the left mouse button.

N OT DISTR
O I
4. In the Cell Size group, click the Width box down spin arrow as necessary
B
D
to set the column width to 1.4" and notice that the right border of the table

UT
-

moves to the left.

©PEARSON

E
Adjusting column width by dragging a column border adjusts only
the width of the column; adjusting column width with the Width box

.ROJ...
simultaneously adjusts the right border of the table.

5. In the Cell Size group, click AutoFit, and then click AutoFit Window to
E
stretch the table across the page within the margins so that the right border
ISP
of the table is at the right margin. Click anywhere in the second column.
U
FO

Save and compare your screen with Figure 2.9.

.Q
R

RE

HE F
T

This action mayPchange IL slightly depending on

R the actual column widthsW
IVA
your screen’s resolution. TE USE OF

Another Way
You can adjust column widths by dragging the Move Table Column markers on
the ruler. To maintain the right border of the table at the right margin, hold
down while dragging. To display measurements on the ruler, hold down
while dragging the marker.

https://plus.pearson.com/products/BRNT-2S3Q1PZPESB/pages/e47473d0-9fca-11ec-8750-821e586cac22?userPreferredType=read&source_from=a… 2/7
2/25/25, 11:49 PM Objective 2: Format Rows, Columns, and Cells in a Table

179

Figure 2.9

More KnowledgeNOT DISTR

O IB
D
Changing Column Widths

UT
-
©PEARSON

E
You will typically get the best results if you change the column widths starting at
the left side of the table, especially in tables with three or more columns. Word
can also calculate the best column widths for you. To do this, select the table.

.ROJ...
Then, on the Layout tab, in the Cell Size group, click the AutoFit button and
click AutoFit Contents.
E
UISP
FO

.Q
R

RE

HE
LF
T

PR WI
IVAT
E USE OF
Activity 2.06: Using One-Click
Row/Column Insertion to Modify
Table Dimensions
One of the most common actions you will take in a table is adding another row
or another column. By using One-click Row/Column Insertion you can do so in
context by pointing to the left or top edge where you want the row or column to
appear and then clicking the button to add it.

1. If necessary, scroll to view the lower portion of the table. On the left

border of the table, point to the upper left corner of the cell containing the

https://plus.pearson.com/products/BRNT-2S3Q1PZPESB/pages/e47473d0-9fca-11ec-8750-821e586cac22?userPreferredType=read&source_from=a… 3/7
2/25/25, 11:49 PM Objective 2: Format Rows, Columns, and Cells in a Table

text HONORS AND ACTIVITIES to display the One-click Row/Column

Insertion button. Compare your screen with Figure 2.10.

Mac Tip
In your table, click where you want to add a row or column. To the right of the
Table Design tab, click the Layout tab, and then use the commands in the Rows
& Columns group. Or, click in the cell, hold down and click one time to
display a shortcut menu. Point to Insert and select the appropriate command.

N OT DISTR
O I B
Figure 2.10
D

UT
-
©PEARSON

E
2. Click the button one time to insert a new row above the HONORS AND .ROJ...
E
ISP
ACTIVITIES row.
U
FO

.Q

3. Click in the left cell of the new row, type EDUCATION and then press .
R

RE

HE F
T

PR
4. Type the following, pressing at the end of eachIL
item except the last one:
IVAT W
E USE OF
180

Mac Tip
Before you begin typing, press two times to remove the bullet formatting
copied from the row below; or, on the Home tab, in the Paragraph group,
deselect Bullets.

University of Maryland, College Park, MD

https://plus.pearson.com/products/BRNT-2S3Q1PZPESB/pages/e47473d0-9fca-11ec-8750-821e586cac22?userPreferredType=read&source_from=a… 4/7
2/25/25, 11:49 PM Objective 2: Format Rows, Columns, and Cells in a Table

Bachelor of Science, Information Systems, June 2022

Capital Cities Community College, Alexandria, VA

Associate of Science, Web Design, June 2020

5. Save your document, and then compare your screen with Figure 2.11.

Figure 2.11

N OT DISTR
O I B
D

UT
-

Another Way
©PEARSON

E
When the insertion point is in the last cell in the bottom row of a table, you can

.ROJ...
add a row by pressing the TAB key; the insertion point will display in the first
cell of the new row.

E
UISP
FO

.Q
R

RE

HE
LF
T

PR I
IVAT FW
Activity 2.07: Adjusting Cell
E U S E O Margins
and Merging Table Cells

MOS 3.2.3

Cell margins refer to the space inside a table cell between the text and the cell
borders—top, bottom, left, and right. By increasing the cell margins, you can
avoid having text so close to the cell borders that it is difficult to read.

https://plus.pearson.com/products/BRNT-2S3Q1PZPESB/pages/e47473d0-9fca-11ec-8750-821e586cac22?userPreferredType=read&source_from=a… 5/7
2/25/25, 11:49 PM Objective 2: Format Rows, Columns, and Cells in a Table

The title of a table typically spans all of the columns. In this Activity, you will
increase the cell margins and then merge cells so that you can position the
personal information across both columns.

1. Click anywhere in the top row of the table. On the right end of the ribbon,

on the active Layout tab, in the Alignment group, click Cell Margins.

The Table Options dialog box displays showing the default cell
margins.

2. In the Table Options dialog box, use the spin box arrows to change the

Top cell margin to 0.04" and the Bottom cell margin to 0.04". Compare
your screen with Figure 2.12.

N OT DISTR
Figure 2.12
O I B
D

UT
-
©PEARSON

E
181
3. Click OK, and then compare your screen with Figure 2.13. .ROJ...
E
UISP
FO

The space between the text and the top and bottom of each cell
.Q
R

RE

H
increases, making it easier to read the text in the table.
LF
T

EP I
RIV
ATE USE OF W
Figure 2.13

4. Be sure your insertion point is still positioned in the top row of the table.

On the right end of the ribbon, on the active Layout tab, in the Rows &
Columns group, click Insert Above.

A new row displays above the row that contained the insertion point,
and the new row is selected. This is another method to insert rows

https://plus.pearson.com/products/BRNT-2S3Q1PZPESB/pages/e47473d0-9fca-11ec-8750-821e586cac22?userPreferredType=read&source_from=a… 6/7
2/25/25, 11:49 PM Objective 2: Format Rows, Columns, and Cells in a Table

and columns in a table; use this method to insert a new row at the
top of a table.

Another Way
Right-click in the top row, point to Insert, and then click Insert Rows Above.

5. Be sure the two cells in the top row are selected; if necessary, drag across

OT DISTR
both cells to select them.
N IB Merge Cells, and then
Save
DOtab, in the Merge group, click
6. On the active Layout

your document.

UT
-
©PEARSON

E
The cell border between the two cells no longer displays.

Another Way .ROJ...

E
UISP

Right-click the selected row and click Merge Cells on the shortcut menu.
FO

.Q
R

RE

HE
LF
T

PR WI
IVAT
E USE OF

https://plus.pearson.com/products/BRNT-2S3Q1PZPESB/pages/e47473d0-9fca-11ec-8750-821e586cac22?userPreferredType=read&source_from=a… 7/7