How to the Use the Ruler in Microsoft Word
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Afam has been a content writer with Guiding Tech Media since August 2023. However, his experience in tech writing dates back to 2018, when he worked as a freelance writer for Make Tech Easier. Over the years, he has grown a reputation for publishing quality guides, reviews, tips, and explainer articles. His work is featured on top websites, including Technical Ustad, Windows Report, and Next of Windows. He has training as a Microsoft Certified Professional and has covered more Microsoft-related guides on these platforms.
How to Enable the Microsoft Word Ruler
The ruler in the Microsoft Word app may be hidden, preventing you from seeing it and accessing its features. Here’s how to enable your Word ruler:
Step 1:Launch theMicrosoft Word app.
Step 2:Click theViewtab in the right corner of the Word Ribbon.
Step 4:In theShowgroup, tick the box forRulerto launch the Microsoft Word ruler.
Note that after ticking the box beside Ruler, the ruler that becomes visible depends on thepage layoutchosen in the Views section. The vertical and horizontal rulers will be visible on Microsoft Word if your document is in Print Layout. However, only the horizontal ruler will be visible if you select Web Layout or Draft Views.
How to Open the Page Setup Window With the Microsoft Word Ruler
The page setup window in Microsoft Word contains settings for document margins, paper size, and document layout. The page setup window is useful when formatting your Word document. One way to access the page setup Window is through the Microsoft Word ruler. Here’s how to do so:
Step 1:Ensure theverticalorhorizontal rulersare visible on your Microsoft Word document.
Step 2:Place yourmouse pointeron any part of the vertical or horizontal ruler anddouble-clickto launch the Page Setup window.
As mentioned above, the page setup window lets you edit your Word document’s page margins, size, and layout. However, you can also perform these actions directly with the Word ruler.
How to Adjust the Page Margins Using the Microsoft Word Ruler
In Word, the page margins are blank spaces at the document’s top, bottom, left, and right sides. On the Microsoft Word ruler, gray shadings highlight the margins at the start and end of both the horizontal and vertical rulers. By default, the page margins should be 2.54cm/1-inch. Toadjust the page margin, here’s what you must do:
Step 1:Place yourmouse pointeron the horizontal or vertical rulers, depending on the margin you want to adjust. On the horizontal ruler, place your mouse pointer on the left and right margins, while on the vertical ruler, place your mouse pointer on the top and bottom margins.
Step 2:Move yourcursorto the boundary between the grey and white space of the ruler. This will convert the mouse pointer to a double-sided arrow.
Step 3:Slide thedouble-sidedarrow left, right, down, or up to adjust the page margin.
How to Adjust Page Indents Using the Microsoft Word Ruler
After activating the Microsoft Word ruler, you should see triangular- and rectangular-like markers. These markers adjust the indent of paragraphs, bullets, and numberings on your Word document. The Word ruler has three markers – the first line, left, hanging, and right indent. Here’s what happens when you move any markers.
Step 1:Place yourmouse cursorin the paragraph of the Word document you want to adjust.
Step 2:Click on thefirst line indent markerat the top and drag it to your right. This will change the indentation of the first lines of a paragraph.
Step 3:Click on thesecond indent markerunder the first one and drag it to your right to change the indentation for all paragraph lines. Note that dragging the left indent marker will also move the first line and hanging indent markers.
Step 4:Click on thehanging indent markerand drag it to your right to change the indentation of all other lines in a paragraph except the first line.
Step 5:Click on theright indent markerand drag it to your left to re-adjust the right side of the paragraph.
How to Add Tab Stops Using the Microsoft Word Ruler
Pressing the tab key on your keyboard moves your cursor ahead by about eight characters. This is possible because you have set the tab stop option. In Word, tab stops help create evenly-spaced text. You must see an icon resembling block L on the Microsoft Word vertical ruler. Here’s how to add tab stops to your Microsoft Word document:
Step 1:Select thetextyou want to align on the Word document.
Step 2:At the left of the Microsoft Word document, click theicon(which looks like a blockL) at the start of the ruler to select the type of tab stop you want.
Step 3:After selecting your preferred tab stop, click on therulerat the top of your Word canvas and place the tab stop.
The block L represents one of the tab stops options, which includes:
How to Rotate Ruler in Word
While we have explored the ruler connected with page setup on Word, another ruler is associated with drawing on Word. By default, it has a 46-degree inclination. You may rotate it to change the angle or slope of lines.
Step 1:Open your Word document and click theDrawmenu.
Step 2:Click theRuler icon.
Step 3:Movetwo fingerson the touchpad to get the exact angle you want.
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Last updated on 23 August, 2024
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