How to Add Two Columns in Microsoft Word

If you want to add two columns in Microsoft Word to a specific part of your document, you can use the “Columns” feature. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Adding Two Columns to a Section:

1. Place Cursor:
   • Position your cursor where you want the two columns to start.
2. Layout Tab:
   • Go to the “Layout” or “Page Layout” tab in the Ribbon.
3. Columns Button:
   • Look for the “Columns” button in the Page Setup group.
4. Select Two Columns:
   • Click on the “Columns” button, and a drop-down menu will appear.
   • Choose “Two” from the options. If you want more columns, select the appropriate number.

Using More Columns Option (for custom settings):

1. Place Cursor:
   • Position your cursor where you want the two columns to start.
2. Layout Tab:
   • Go to the “Layout” or “Page Layout” tab in the Ribbon.
3. Columns Dialog Box:
   • Click on the small arrow next to the “Columns” button in the Page Setup group. This opens the “Columns” dialog box.
4. Custom Settings:
   • In the dialog box, you can customize the number of columns, the width and spacing, and whether you want to apply the settings to the whole document or from the current point forward.
5. OK:
   • After adjusting the settings, click “OK” to apply the changes.

Adding Two Columns with Section Breaks (for different column layouts):

1. Place Cursor:
   • Position your cursor where you want to start the new column layout.
2. Layout Tab:
   • Go to the “Layout” or “Page Layout” tab in the Ribbon.
3. Breaks:
   • Click on “Breaks” in the Page Setup group.
4. Continuous Section Break:
   • Choose “Continuous” under “Section Breaks.” This will start a new section without changing the page.
5. Repeat for Other Sections:
   • Repeat the process for any additional sections where you want a different column layout.
6. Apply Columns Settings:
   • After adding section breaks, use one of the methods mentioned earlier to apply the two columns within each section.

Remember, if you want to remove columns from part of the document, place the cursor where you want to end the columns, go to the “Layout” tab, click on “Columns,” and choose “One” or “More Columns” depending on your preference.

The steps should work for most versions of Microsoft Word, but the exact location of buttons or options might vary slightly based on your Word version.