This article explains how to create borders around the text, images or pages of a Word document.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Add Borders to Content
Step 1. Open the Word document to edit
Double-click the Word document icon you want to add borders to. Its contents will be displayed inside the Microsoft Word window.
If you haven't created the document you want to add borders to yet, start Microsoft Word, choose the option Blank document and add the contents of the document according to your need.
Step 2. Go to the Home tab of the Word ribbon
It is located in the upper left of the program window. This way you will have the correct toolbar at your disposal.
Step 3. Select the content to add borders to
Drag the mouse cursor along the text or image you want to select to add borders.
Step 4. Press the "Borders" button
It features a square divided into four smaller squares. It is located within the "Paragraph" group of the "Home" tab of the Word ribbon, just to the right of the "Background" button (featuring a slanted paint can icon).
If you are using a Mac, skip this step
Step 5. Press the button
located to the right of the "Borders" button.
It is characterized by a small arrow pointing downwards. A drop-down menu will appear.
If you are using a Mac, go to the menu Format located at the top of the screen.
Step 6. Choose the Borders and Background… option
It is one of the last items on the menu that appeared.
If you are using a Mac, the indicated option is located in the center of the menu Format.
Step 7. Choose your border configuration settings
Use the "Default" section of the window that appeared to choose the type of stock to use.
For example if you want to add a simple border, which encloses all the text without being invasive, choose the option Box.
Step 8. Choose the style that the border will have
Use the "Style" box to select what the border will look like. Scroll through the list of possible options to choose the one that best suits your needs.
If you deem it necessary, you can also change the border color and thickness using the "Color" and "Thickness" menus respectively
Step 9. Press the OK button
It is located at the bottom of the "Borders and Background" window. The content of the document (text or image) that you have selected will be surrounded by borders, according to the settings you have chosen.
Method 2 of 2: Add Borders to a Page
Step 1. Open the Word document to edit
Double-click the Word document icon you want to add borders to. Its contents will be displayed inside the Microsoft Word window.
If you haven't created the document you want to add borders to yet, start Microsoft Word, choose the option Blank document and add the document contents according to your need.
Step 2. Place the text cursor in a new section of the document
If you do not need to insert borders on all the pages that compose it, place the text cursor at the end of the page preceding the one in which you want to insert the borders.
If you want every page of your document to have a border, skip this step and the next
Step 3. Create a new section of the document
This way you can be sure that borders won't be applied to all pages:
- Access the card Layout.
- Push the button Interruptions, located in the "Page Setup" group of the "Layout" tab.
- Choose the option Next page from the drop-down menu that appeared.
Step 4. Go to the Design tab
It is located at the top of the Word window.
Step 5. Press the Page Borders button
It is located on the right side of the tab Design on the Word ribbon. A pop-up window will appear.
Step 6. Choose your border configuration settings
Use the "Default" section of the window that appeared to choose the type of stock to use.
For example, if you want to add a simple border, which encloses all the text without being intrusive, choose the option Box.
Step 7. Choose the style that the border will have
Use the "Style" box to select what the border will look like. Scroll through the list of possible options to choose the one that best suits your needs.
If necessary, you can also change the border color and thickness using the "Color" and "Thickness" menus respectively
Step 8. Choose the pages to format
If you created a new section following the previous steps in this method, access the "Apply to" drop-down menu, then choose the portion of the document to apply borders to.
For example to add borders to the first page of the current section you will need to choose the option Current section - First page only.
Step 9. Press the OK button
It is located in the lower right of the "Borders and Shading" dialog box. The selected border settings will be applied to the page (or pages) of the document.
