How to Show Ruler in Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is one of the programs most used by Windows clients, this software has the tools to put a line spacing or borders on the pages and functions necessary to carry out written works and paint drawings . Another tool in Word is the ‘Ruler’ and in this article we will inform you of everything related to its usefulness.

Index(  )

1. What is the ruler for in Microsoft Word?
2. What are the steps to display the ruler in Microsoft Word?
3. What are the tricks to take advantage of the ruler in Word?
   1. Modify margins and indents
      1. First line indentation
      2. French sangria
      3. Left indentation
      4. Right indent
      5. Margins
   2. Create tabs
      1. Left tab
      2. Right tab
   3. Header Heights
   4. Column widths
   5. Image size

What is the ruler for in Microsoft Word?

The Microsoft Word ruler is useful when it comes to setting margins, indents, tabs, or to align images.

What are the steps to display the ruler in Microsoft Word?

• You can display the ruler in Microsoft Word by performing two procedures:

1. Locate and select the ‘View’option found on the toolbar.
2. Then check the ‘Rule’box , found in the ‘Show’ section .

• The other procedure can be carried out in the ‘File’menu .

1. Select the ‘ File’button
2. Locate and select   ‘Options’
3. Click on the ‘ Advanced’button
4. Select the ‘Show vertical ruler’ box,found in the ‘ Print layout’ view  located in the ‘Show’ section.

What are the tricks to take advantage of the ruler in Word?

There are some tricks to get the most out of this tool. Word shows you the ruler in inches in a certain way, this will not necessarily always be the unit that is of your preference.

If you want to change it, you just have to click on the ‘File’ menu and then click on ‘Options’ , the last option, you can find it below everything. The Word ruler is the tool that aims to show you the measurement of the document with respect to the size of the page, but its greatest utility may be to  make some adjustments to the format  of the paragraphs by sliding different controls.

Modify margins and indents

• To be able to modify the indentation of a paragraph and the margins of the pages you must follow the following steps:

First line indentation

• You must first click somewhere on it.
• Then you click on the upper left triangle of the ruler. Then you must press and drag to the right.
• And finally, release it when it is in the desired position.

French sangria

• Click somewhere on it.
• Then you click on the lower left triangle of the ruler.
• Then you must press and drag to the right.
• Release it when it is in the desired position.

Left indentation

• To be able to modify the left indent of a paragraph, you must first click somewhere in it.
• Then you click on the square of the ruler, you can find it below the two inverted triangles.
• Press and drag to the right.
• Stop pressing when it is in the desired position.

Right indent

• Click somewhere in the paragraph.
• Click on the triangle that appears to the right.
• Press and drag to the left. And finally, release it when it is in the desired position.

Margins

• Position the mouse cursor between the white and gray rulers, then click when the cursor changes to a double-headed arrow.
• Now you must do the same with the vertical ruler to be able to change the top and bottom margins.
• Position the mouse cursor between the white and gray rulers, then click when the cursor changes to a double-headed arrow.
• Finally, hold down and drag up or down to change the margin.

Create tabs

Left tab

• To create a left tab stop, click on tabs, this is the left end of the ruler until the corresponding tab type appears, and finally, click on the ruler at the location you want.
• Go to the beginning of the text and press the TAB key to take the text to the place you want.

Right tab

• To create a right tab stop, you must click the tab selector at the left end of the ruler until the corresponding tab type appears, and finally click the ruler in the desired location.
• Go to the beginning of the text and press the TAB key to take the text to the place you want.

Header Heights

If you want to change the height of the header or footer, then drag the height larger or smaller depending on how you need it in the ‘Page Layout’ view . Later you must drag the top margin up or down as you need to change the height of the header.

Column widths

Locate the ‘Page Layout’ or ‘Layout’ tab , click on ‘Columns’ . At the bottom of the list, choose ‘ More columns’ . In that section you can also adjust the width and spacing of the columns.

Image size

First click on the image, shape, text box or WordArt that you want to modify its size and press the image tools option found in the ‘Format’ tab . Then select ‘Size’ and write the  measurements you want in the ‘Height’ and ‘Width’ boxes .