How to Center Text Vertically in a Table Row

• Microsoft Word for Windows versions 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c

SUMMARY

There is no feature in Word for Windows that centers text vertically in a table cell. However, you can use the Spacing Before and After paragraph format to simulate this feature.

To simulate centering text vertically in a table cell, subtract the number of lines of text in the cell from the row height. Divide the difference by 2. Use the result as the value of the Spacing Before and After paragraph format that you apply to the first paragraph in the cell.

Example

The row height of the table cell is five lines and the text to be centered is one line:

1. Subtract one line from the row height (5 - 1 = 4).

2. Divide the difference by 2 (4 / 2 = 2).

3. From the Format menu, choose Paragraph. Select 2 li in the Spacing, Before box and select 2 li in the Spacing, After and choose the OK button.

"Running Word for Windows, Version 2," Russell Borland, Microsoft Press, 1992, page 273

  Note: This reference instructs you to press CTRL+O (where O is the
  letter O) to center a row vertically. This only works when the row
  height is three lines because it adds one line of space above the
  text.