Text wrapping in the Word document

Wrap Text features work for figures in a Word document (see text wrapping for tables). Figures in Word mean any visual objects except tables and equations. So, using the same Wrap Text features can be used for images, ClipArt objects, charts, text boxes, diagrams, and SmartArt objects.

Change text wrapping

By default, Word inserts (see examples below):

• Pictures (images and photos), charts in line with the text.
• Text boxes, shapes in front of the text.
• WordArt objects behind the text.

To change the way how text should wrap the object, select it, then do one of the following:

• On the Picture Format (Shape Format, Graphics Format) tab, in the Arrange group, click the Wrap Text button:
  
• Right-click on the object, then choose Wrap Text in the popup menu:
    or  
• Click the Layout Options button that appears next to the selected figure:
  

From the Wrap Text list, choose the option you prefer:

• In Line with Text places an object in a paragraph on the same line as the surrounding text. The text does not wrap around it.
  
• Square wraps the text around the picture or shape on all sides at right angles (a square pattern) as if it is rectangular. The text fills the remaining rectangular region.

  This option is the most common form of text wrapping.

  
• Tight wraps the text around the edges of the figure. The text follows the shape.

  This option is most useful for larger images covering most of the page width.

  
• Through wraps the text around the picture or shape edges, including any white gaps. If there is no white space in the image or shape, text wrapping works the same as Tight.

  This option is an advanced setting because you pull or drag image and shape points in and out of their original borders:

  

  See how to edit hyphenation points.

• Top and Bottom wraps the text above and below the figure to keep the image on its line. There is no text on either side of it.
  
• Behind Text places the figure behind, or underneath, any existing text. The text does not wrap around it.

  The picture looks like a watermark or background image.

  

  Note: Use the Selection pane when working with objects behind the text.

• In Front of Text places the object on top of the text. The text is not wrapped, so some of it may be blocked depending on the figure's transparency.
  

Note: Figures that use the Square, Tight, Through, Top and Bottom, Behind Text, or In Front of Text wrapping style are all considered floating.

Position a figure to a paragraph or page

Also, Word offers two options for all wrapping styles except In line with Text (for floating figures):

• Move with Text moves the figure along with the surrounding text.

  If a figure is positioned inside the paragraph, and you delete or add any content before the paragraph, the figure moves with the paragraph. See more about Positioning a picture, text box, or shape on the page.

• Fix Position on Page keeps the figure at the same place on the page when text is added or removed.

  If the paragraph where the figure is located (that paragraph contains anchor) moves to the next page, the figure moves and keeps its position relative to the page.

Note: The same options you can find in the Layout dialog box, on the Position tab, in the Options section:

Checking the Move object with text check box is equivalent to the Move with Text option from the Wrap Text dropdown list. Unchecking the Move object with text check box is equivalent to the Fix Position on Page option.

Wrap text on both sides, or one side only

To change additional options, choose More Layout Options... from the Wrap Text dropdown list or the See more... link in the Layout Options menu.

In the Layout dialog box, on the Text Wrapping tab:

• In the Wrapping style group, choose any style exact In line with text (see above).
• In the Wrap text group (available for the Square, Tight, and Thought wrapping styles), choose any of the additional options:
  • Both sides wraps text around either side of the image or shape:
    
  • Left only wraps text around only the left side of the image or shape:
    
  • Right only wraps text around only the right side of the image or shape:
    
  • Largest only wraps text on the side of the image or shape with the larger distance from the margin.

Change the distance between text and object

To change the distance between text and the visual object, open the Layout dialog box by one of the following methods:

• On the Picture Format (Shape Format, Graphics Format) tab, in the Arrange group, click the Wrap Text button, then select More Layout Options...
• Right-click on the object, click the Wrap Text list, then select More Layout Options... in the popup menu.
• Click the See more... link in the Layout Options menu.

In the Layout dialog box, on the Text Wrapping tab, in the Distance from text section, enter custom values for the distance between the text and the picture independently for:

• Top and Bottom (available for the Square, Tight, Thought, and Top and Bottom wrapping styles),
• Left and Right (available for the Square, Tight, and Thought wrapping styles).

For example, with the 0.3-inch distance on all sides:

Edit hyphenation points

To use the Tight or Through options effectively, you may need to adjust the wrapping points for the image or shape. To edit wrap points, select the object, then activate the Edit Wrap Points view by one of the following methods:

• Picture Format (Shape Format, Graphics Format) tab, in the Arrange group, click the Wrap Text button. Then choose Edit Wrap Points from the Wrap Text dropdown list:
  
• Right-click on the object and select Wrap Text -> Edit Wrap Points in the popup menu:
  

In the Edit Wrap Points view, drag the red lines to adjust where the text wraps:

Note: There is no way to add points. You can move existing wrap points however you want.

Be careful! After changing a text wrapping option or copy-pasting the picture, Word lost the changes of Wrap Points.