How do I insert a text box in Microsoft Word 365?

Inserting a text box in Microsoft Word 365 is a straightforward way to add specific blocks of text that can be easily positioned and formatted independently of the main document flow.

You can easily insert a text box by navigating to the Insert tab and selecting the Text Box option.

Steps to Insert a Text Box in Word 365

Word offers a couple of primary methods for adding text boxes: using a pre-formatted style or drawing your own custom box.

1. Drawing Your Own Text Box

This method gives you complete control over the size and initial placement of the text box.

Here's how to do it:

1. Navigate to the Insert tab on the Word ribbon.
2. In the Text group, click on the Text Box dropdown arrow.
3. From the menu that appears, select Draw Text Box.
4. Your cursor will turn into a crosshair (+). Click and drag on the document page to draw the text box the size you want.
5. Once the box is drawn, release the mouse button.
6. Type some text directly into the new text box.

You can resize or move the text box at any time by clicking on its border and dragging the handles or the entire box.

2. Using Built-in Text Box Styles

Microsoft Word also provides a gallery of pre-designed text boxes with various layouts and formatting.

1. Go to the Insert tab.
2. Click the Text Box dropdown arrow.
3. Browse the gallery of built-in styles (like Simple Text Box, Pull Quote, Sidebar, etc.).
4. Click on the style you wish to insert.
5. A text box with placeholder text will appear in your document.
6. Click inside the text box and type your desired content to replace the placeholder text.

These pre-formatted boxes often include basic styling and positioning which you can further customize.

Customizing Your Text Box

Once inserted, a text box behaves much like a shape. You can:

• Resize it by dragging the corner or side handles.
• Move it by clicking and dragging its border.
• Change its fill color, outline, and add effects using the Shape Format tab that appears when the text box is selected.
• Modify text formatting (font, size, color, alignment) using the standard Home tab tools.

Text boxes are useful for callouts, sidebars, captions, or highlighting specific information outside the main body of your document.