Columns

Please note: these resources are specific to Texas Tech's electronic thesis and dissertation (ETD) accessibility requirements

Correctly formatted columns are necessary to ensure correct reading order for screen readers. You must use the built-in tools in Microsoft Word to meet accessibility guidelines.

If you prefer video instructions, you can find them here.

To create columns for an entire document

1. Place your cursor in the first paragraph of text
2. Select the Layout tab from the top menu bar
3. Select Columns from the ribbon. (Please note, depending on your layout, this may be shown only as an image of columns on a page with Columns as the mouseover text.)
4. Select the desired number of columns
5. Additional column options are available:
   1. Choosing Left (or Right) will create proportionally smaller left (or right) columns
   2. Choosing More offers options for a larger number or specific width of columns

To create columns for a section of the document

1. Highlight the portion of the text you would like to convert to columns. (Please note, if you are using the web version of Word you may need to insert a column break before and after the section you wish to convert into columns.)
2. Select the Layout tab from the top menu
3. Select Columns from the ribbon
4. Select the desired number of columns, or choose More to create custom column proportions

This will create a section break that you can update or change as needed. To see the edges of the section break, you will want to show the hidden characters using one of two options:

• Select the Home tab and then choose the Paragraph symbol (¶) from the ribbon. Depending on your layout this may be in a dropdown menu.  
• Use cmd-shift-8 (Mac) or ctrl-shift-8 (PC) to toggle this setting.

To include images in columns

1. Select the Insert tab in the top menu bar
2. Select the picture you would like to insert
3. Select Layout in the top menu bar
4. Select the portion of the document, including image, that you would like to turn into columns. (Please note, if you are using the web version of Word you may need to insert a column break before and after the section you wish to convert into columns.)
5. Select Columns from the ribbon
6. Select the desired number of columns
7. Resize image as needed

 

For more information visit Texas Tech's Digital Accessibility Website for trainings and resources, or schedule an appointment at the Graduate Writing Center.

Part of the Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Accessibility Resource for Microsoft Word  series compiled by Allison Belisle, Graduate School, and Rebecca Bruning and Caroline Hetherington, Graduate Writing Center, a unit of Academic Innovation and Student Success, under the Office of the Provost.