4 Simple Ways to Rotate Text Direction & Position in Word

An easy-to-follow guide on changing the direction of text in Microsoft Word

Do you want to type vertically in word? You can create vertical text by creating a textbox and adjusting its settings to set the position. You can change the text's direction, rotate it, and mirror it. You could also change the document's orientation from portrait to landscape mode. This wikiHow will show you how to write vertically in word on your Windows or Mac computer.

Things You Should Know

  • Create a textbox with your text. Click "Shape Format" → "Text Direction" → "Rotate all text 90°".
  • To make text vertical, drag the right-center circle of your textbox towards the left.
  • To mirror text, right-click the textbox, then "Format Shape". Click "Effects", then input "180" into the X or Y Rotation field.
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Rotating Text

  1. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 1
    1
    Open a project in Microsoft Word. This looks like a W on top of a blue square. Microsoft Word is available to install for Windows and Mac.[1]
  2. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 2
    2
    Create a textbox. To do this, click the Insert tab in the top toolbar, then click the Text Box icon in the Text section. You can select Simple Text Box from the presets.
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  3. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 3
    3
    Insert your text. Input the text you want to edit. You can copy and paste from another program into Microsoft Word.
    • Make sure the textbox is still selected.
  4. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 4
    4
    Click Shape Format. You can find this at the top toolbar, next to Help. Alternatively, double-click the edge of the textbox to be quickly redirected.
  5. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 5
    5
    Click Text Direction. This will be in the Text section.
    • A drop-down menu will open.
  6. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 6
    6
    Select Rotate all text 90°. You can also select Rotate all text 270° if you want the top of the words to face the left side.
    • Your text will be rotated.
    • You can continue to edit your text in the textbox. The words will type in the direction set.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Making Text Vertical

  1. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 7
    1
    Open a project in Microsoft Word. This looks like a W on top of a blue square. Microsoft Word is available to install for Windows and Mac.
    • You must have a subscription to use Office 365.
  2. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 8
    2
    Create a textbox. To do this, click the Insert tab in the top toolbar, then click the Text Box icon in the Text section. You can select Simple Text Box from the presets.
  3. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 9
    3
    Insert your text. Input the text you want to edit. You can copy and paste from another program into Microsoft Word.
    • Make sure the textbox is still selected.
  4. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 10
    4
    Click and drag the center circle on the right towards the left. With the textbox selected, you'll see four circles at each point of the text box and one circle between each corner. Use the middle circle on the left side.
    • As you drag the text box towards the left, it will become smaller. The text inside will adjust to fit the size of the box in vertical format.
    • Make sure not to drag past the point of the left line. This could result in the words returning to their normal positions.
  5. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 11
    5
    Remove the textbox lines (optional). If you want to remove the lines around the text, double-click the textbox to return to the Shape Format tab.
    • Click Shape Outline, then select No Outline from the drop-down menu.
    • The textbox lines will be hidden. Be sure to save your document if you need to return to it later.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Mirroring Text

  1. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 12
    1
    Open a project in Microsoft Word. This looks like a W on top of a blue square. Microsoft Word is available to install for Windows and Mac.
    • You must have a subscription to use Office 365.
  2. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 13
    2
    Create a text box. To do this, click the Insert tab in the top toolbar, then click the Text Box icon in the Text section. You can select Simple Text Box from the presets.
  3. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 14
    3
    Insert your text. Input the text you want to edit. You can copy and paste from another program into Microsoft Word.
    • Make sure the textbox is still selected.
  4. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 15
    4
    Right-click the textbox. A drop-down menu will open.
  5. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 16
    5
    Click Format Shape…. This will be at the very bottom of the menu.
    • A panel will open on the right side.
    • If you don't see this option, make sure the textbox is selected, not the text.
  6. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 17
    6
    Click the "Effects" icon. This looks like a pentagon, next to the paint bucket icon.
  7. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 18
    7
    Enter 180 in the X or Y field. If you want your text to be mirrored left-right, enter 180 into the X Rotation field. If you want your text to be mirrored up-down, enter 180 into the Y Rotation field.
    • The changes will take effect immediately.
  8. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 19
    8
    Remove the textbox lines (optional). If you want to remove the lines around the text, double-click the textbox to return to the Shape Format tab.
    • Click Shape Outline, then select No Outline from the drop-down menu.
    • The textbox lines will be hidden. You can print your document if needed.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Changing Paper Orientation

  1. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 20
    1
    Open a project in Microsoft Word. This looks like a W on top of a blue square. Microsoft Word is available to install for Windows and Mac.
    • You must have a subscription to use Office 365.
    • Use this method if you want to change your paper orientation from portrait to landscape.
  2. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 21
    2
    Click Layout. This will be in the top toolbar, between Design and References.
  3. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 22
    3
    Click Orientation. You can find this at the top, next to Margins.
    • A drop-down menu will open.
  4. Image titled Change the Orientation of Text in Microsoft Word Step 23
    4
    Click Landscape. Your Microsoft Word document will change to landscape orientation.
    • If you change back to portrait mode after inputting text, the text will follow the portrait mode orientation. It will not save in its landscape position.
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References

  1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/rotate-text-in-word-66d0ea6d-a26d-40bf-8b3c-3ff8a9f60dc9

About This Article

Rain Kengly
Written by:
Rain Kengly
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly. Rain Kengly is a wikiHow Technology Writer. As a storytelling enthusiast with a penchant for technology, they hope to create long-lasting connections with readers from all around the globe. Rain graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA in Cinema. This article has been viewed 1,276,462 times.
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Co-authors: 27
Updated: January 30, 2023
Views: 1,276,462
Categories: Microsoft Word
Article SummaryX

1. Click Insert.
2. Click Text.
3. Click Text Box.
4. Click Draw Text Box.
5. Click and drag a text box.
6. Type text into the box.
7. Hover the mouse over the box outline.
8. Click the rotation icon and drag in any direction.

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