How to Create Columns of Text A Formatting Tutorial

Columns are Common From poetry to cooking ingredients, columns of text are seen in many published books. Unfortunately, there is a wrong way and a right way to make a column. When creating a text column, don’t rely on the space bar or tab key. These can make very untrustworthy columns!

From poetry to cooking ingredients, columns of text are seen in many published books.

Unfortunately, there is a wrong way and a right way to make a column.

When creating a text column, don’t rely on the space bar or tab key. These can make very untrustworthy columns!

The Wrong Way Although your column made by pressing the space bar or tab may look good now, the margins will change as your manuscript goes into production. Your column will look completely different. A way to check yourself is by viewing your manuscript in Show Format Mode . If you see lines of dots and arrows between columns, they were made incorrectly. Dots indicate where you pressed the space bar. Arrows indicate where you pressed tab. This tutorial will show you how to create columns in your soon-to-be published book using Microsoft Word.

Although your column made by pressing the space bar or tab may look good now, the margins will change as your manuscript goes into production. Your column will look completely different.

A way to check yourself is by viewing your manuscript in Show Format Mode . If you see lines of dots and arrows between columns, they were made incorrectly. Dots indicate where you pressed the space bar. Arrows indicate where you pressed tab.

This tutorial will show you how to create columns in your soon-to-be published book using Microsoft Word.

The Right Way Select the text you want to appear in columns. Highlight the text. Go to Format on your top toolbar. Select Columns . You can select how many columns you want. We recommend no more than two columns if you are publishing a 5 x 8 or 6 x 9 book. Any more than two will not fit on the page. View your manuscript in Show Format Mode . You will see that there are no tabs or spaces between your columns.

Select the text you want to appear in columns. Highlight the text.

Go to Format on your top toolbar. Select Columns .

You can select how many columns you want.

We recommend no more than two columns if you are publishing a 5 x 8 or 6 x 9 book. Any more than two will not fit on the page.

View your manuscript in Show Format Mode . You will see that there are no tabs or spaces between your columns.

Ready for Production If you have made any columns incorrectly, they need to be reconstructed before the book goes into production. You can do this yourself or ask an AuthorHouse representative for Manuscript Preparation Estimate , one of the many self publishing services we provide. If you have any questions, please contact an AuthorHouse representative representative at 888.519.5121 and we would be happy to assist you.

If you have made any columns incorrectly, they need to be reconstructed before the book goes into production.

You can do this yourself or ask an AuthorHouse representative for Manuscript Preparation Estimate , one of the many self publishing services we provide.

If you have any questions, please contact an AuthorHouse representative representative at 888.519.5121 and we would be happy to assist you.