Text Wrapping in Word – Explained

Text wrapping in Word is about how text behaves around a graphical object or illustration, such as a picture, shape, textbox or even a table. It controls how text position itself or flexibly flows to the position of a graphic in your Word document. For example, you can use the Square text wrapping to wrap text around the shape or picture.

There are four options that allow you to wrap text around objects in Word. These four options are explained and illustrated below.

Square Text Wrapping in Word

With this option, the object sits inside a rectangular container. And text flows around the rectangle, leaving some space between the text and the object. When this option is used, the object (picture, shape or textbox) can be dragged to a different location within the document, while maintaining its rectangular shape.

To set a square text wrapping:

• Right-click on the picture
• A shortcut menu appears. Click on Wrap Text.
• Another shortcut menu appears with the layout options, click on the Square option.

• Alternatively, click to select the object. The Layout Options icon will appear at the top right corner of the object. Click on this icon and then choose Square from the list of wrapping options.

This is how you may apply the Square layout option to a picture in Word. This option can also allow you to move the picture anywhere in your Word document by dragging.

Tight text wrapping option

Wrapping text with the tight layout option is similar to the square wrap. The difference is that the text is closer to the object and matches its shape. For example, if the shape of the object is a circle or a rectangle, the hole in the text will be shaped like a circle or rectangle respectively around the object.

To set Tight text wrapping in Word:

• Right-click on the picture
• A shortcut menu appears. Click on Wrap Text.
• Another shortcut menu appears with the layout options, click on the Tight option.

• Alternatively, select the picture to display the Layout Options icon. Click on this icon and select the Tight layout option.

This is how you may set a tight text wrap in Word.

Top and Bottom wrap

This places the image or picture in a rectangular box that has the same width as the margin. This way, the text flows above and below, but not beside the picture or shape.

To set Top and Bottom text wrap in Word:

• Right-click on the picture
• A shortcut menu appears. Click on Wrap Text.
• Another shortcut menu appears with the layout options, click on the Top and Bottom option.

• Alternatively, click on the Layout Option at the top right corner of the object, then select the desired text wrapping option from the shortcut menu.

Text wrapping in Word – Through option

Depending on the nature of the image, the text flows through any open area of the image. However, there is no enough proof that it works. In practice, this option appears to have the same effects and behavior as the Tight wrapping.

To set text wrapping in Word with the Through option:

• Right-click on the picture
• A shortcut menu appears. Click on Wrap Text.
• Another shortcut menu appears with the layout options, click on the Through option.

• Alternatively, use the Layout Options icon at the top right corner of the picture to select the desired wrapping option.

These are the four layout options that allow you to wrap text around a picture, shape, or text box in Word.