Microsoft KB Archive/20333

WD: Columns Not Lining Up Horizontally

Q20333

---

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 3.0, 3.01, 3.02, 4.0, 5.0, 5.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a
• Microsoft Word Macintosh Edition

---

SYMPTOMS

When you format your text in a multi-column document to be different point sizes, the text in various columns may not align correctly horizontally.

CAUSE

This behavior is by design. Microsoft Word automatically adjusts the line spacing for each line of a paragraph based on the size of the text and any space needed for superscript or subscript text.

WORKAROUND

To change the line spacing in your document, follow these steps:

1. On the Edit menu, click Select All.

2. On the Format menu, click Paragraph, and set the line spacing to a fixed (exact) value.
   
   For example, to set the line spacing to 14 points, use the appropriate method for your version of Word.

   Word for the Macintosh (Version 5.0 and Later) and Word for Windows

   Click to select Exactly in the Line Spacing box, and then type 14 in the At box.

   Word for the Macintosh (Version 4.0 and Earlier)

   Type -14 (a negative value) in the Line box under Spacing. This forces all the lines to be exactly 14 points tall.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kblayout
Issue type : kbprb
Technology :

Last Reviewed: November 4, 2000 © 2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.