WD: Columns Not Lining Up Horizontally

ID: 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 95, 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 98 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 
Version           : MACINTOSH:3.0,3.01,3.02,4.0,5.0,5.1,6.0,6.0.1,6.0.1a,98; WINDOWS:2.0,2.0a,2.0a-cd,2.0b,2.0c,6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0,7.0a,97
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: February 19, 1998