how to change text direction in word

To change the text direction in Microsoft Word, you have several options depending on where the text is (in a text box, shape, table cell, or normal paragraph):

Changing Text Direction in a Text Box or Shape

1. Insert or select the text box or shape containing your text.
2. Right-click the edge of the text box or shape.
3. Choose Format Shape from the shortcut menu.
4. In the Format Shape pane, go to Size/Layout & Properties (paper icon).
5. Under the Text Box section, find Text direction.
6. Select the desired direction from the dropdown: Horizontal, Rotate all text 90°, or Rotate all text 270°.
7. Click outside the pane to apply changes

You can also rotate the entire text box or shape by selecting it and using the rotation handle to turn it manually

Changing Text Direction in a Table Cell

1. Select the cell(s) in the table where you want to change text direction.
2. Right-click and select Text Direction from the context menu.
3. Choose the desired orientation for the text (e.g., vertical or horizontal).
4. The text inside the cell will rotate accordingly

Changing Text Direction for Paragraphs (Right-to-Left Languages)

• On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, use the Right-to-left paragraph button to switch text direction for languages such as Arabic or Hebrew

Summary

• Use Format Shape > Text Box > Text direction to rotate text inside text boxes or shapes.
• Use Right-click > Text Direction in table cells to rotate text vertically.
• Use the Right-to-left paragraph button for paragraph text direction in right-to-left languages.

This allows you to create vertical, rotated, or right-to-left text layouts in Word documents effectively.