You are not limited to rectangular text boxes when it comes
to positioning and formatting text for best effect. Word provides a wealth of
AutoShapes—from arrows and banners to clouds and trees—that can be used as
text containers. To create a text box from an AutoShape, follow these steps:

  1. Go to View | Print Layout (if you are not already in this view).
  2. Click the Drawing tool in the Standard toolbar.
  3. Click
    AutoShapes and select the shape to contain the text.
  4. Click
    and drag to draw the shape in your document.
  5. Right-click
    the shape and select Add Text.
  6. Type
    the desired text.

You can now select the text in your AutoShape and format it
as you would any document text.

Miss a tip?

Check out the Microsoft Word archive, and catch up on our most recent Word tips.

Help users increase productivity by automatically signing up for TechRepublic’s free Microsoft Office Suite newsletter, featuring Word, Excel, and Access tips, delivered each Wednesday.