WD: General Information About Section Breaks

ID: Q141993

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
  • Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1
  • Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
  • Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0

SUMMARY

This article describes the types of section breaks available in Word and their uses. When you start a document, there are no section breaks because the entire document consists of one section. A section break is the point at which you end one section and begin another because you want some aspect of page formatting to change. You can divide a document into any number of sections and format each section the way you want. Throughout this article, keep in mind that a section break acts as an embedded code that stores or maintains the properties of the section above it.

For tips about using section breaks, refer to the "More Information" section of this article.

Section/Page properties include the following settings:

Page Orientation (Portrait/Landscape)
Margins
Columns
Line Numbering
Vertical Alignment
Headers & Footers
Page Numbering
Paper Size
Paper Source
It is recommended that when you are working with section breaks that you turn on the Show Hide information. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the View tab.


  2. Under Non Printing Characters, click to select All.


  3. Click OK.


Using Section Breaks

To create a new section, click the Break command on the Insert menu. In normal view, Word displays a double dotted line and the words End of Section to indicate a section break.

The line is not printed. There are several types of section breaks to choose from. The breaks and their purposes are described as follows. 

   Type           Characteristics
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Next Page      Word breaks the page at the section break. The new
                  section starts on the next page.

                  Use this section break if you want to apply different
                  page numbers, headers and footers, orientation,
                  vertical alignment, or paper size to the sections in
                  the document.

   Continuous     Word inserts a section break and begins the new section
                  on the same page. If the two sections have different
                  settings for page size or orientation, the new section
                  begins a new page even if you select Continuous.

                  Use this section break if you want to have different
                  column formatting or margins on the same page. If there
                  are multiple columns in the previous section, Word
                  balances the columns above the section break and then
                  fills out the page with the new section.

   Odd Page       Word begins the new section on the next odd-numbered
                  page. This section break is often used for chapters that
                  begin on odd-numbered pages.

                  NOTE: If the section break falls on an odd-numbered
                  page, Word leaves the intervening even-numbered page
                  blank.

   Even Page      Similar to Odd Page, but Word begins the new section on
                  the next even-numbered page.

Inserting a Section Break

To insert a section break, follow these steps:

  1. Click at the point where you want to start a new section.


  2. On the Insert menu, click Break.


  3. Under Section Breaks, select the option that describes what type of section break you want, as described earlier in this article.


  4. Click OK.


Determining the Type of Section Break

In Word 7.x for Windows and earlier, in normal view, the words End of Section are shown on your screen at every point where you have a section break. The properties for a particular section are contained in the section break below the section. If there are no additional sections in your document, the properties for that section are stored in the last paragraph mark of the document. The section breaks act as an embedded code that stores or maintains the properties of the section above it.

For example, if you have a one-page document and half-way down the page, you insert an Odd Page Section Break and then farther into your document on Page 1, you insert a Next Page Section Break, in normal view, you see the following:
End of Section

End of Section
If you place the insertion point above the first End of Section marker, the status bar will show Page 1 Sec 1. To see the actual properties for the first section, on the File menu, click Page Setup and then click the Layout tab. Under Section Start, it will indicate that the section is New Page. The settings for this section break are stored in the section break below where the insertion point is located or the first End of Section marker on your screen.

If you place the insertion point between the first and second End of Section mark on your screen, the status bar will show Page 3 Sec 2. To see the actual properties for the second section, on the File menu, click Page Setup and then click the Layout tab. Under Section Start, it will indicate that the section is Odd Page. The settings for this section break are stored in the section break below where your insertion point is located or the second End of Section marker on your screen.

If you place the insertion point below the second End of Section mark, the status bar shows Page 4 Sec 3. To see the actual properties for the third section, on the File menu, click Page Setup and then click the Layout tab. Under Section Start, Word indicates that the section is New Page. The settings for this section break are stored in the last paragraph of the document (because there are no more section breaks in the document).

NOTE: A section break indicated on your screen as Next Page will be defined as New Page on the Layout tab of the Page Setup dialog box.

Deleting a Section Break

For information about deleting a section break, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Word 97 and earlier:
Q180258 WD: What Happens When You Delete a Section Break
Word 98 Macintosh Edition:
Q180273 WD98: What Happens When You Delete a Section Break


MORE INFORMATION

You can save a section break and the formatting it contains as an AutoText entry for future use.

You can copy section formatting by copying the section break in normal view. When you paste a section break into a new location, the text above the section break takes on the formatting contained in the section break.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q99740 WD: Section Layout Formatting Changes When Pasting Section Break
To change the type of section break without deleting the current section break, follow these steps:

  1. Place the insertion point into the section that you want to change.

    NOTE: Remember to place the insertion point BELOW the section break that you want to change.


  2. On the File menu, click Page Setup.


  3. Click the Layout tab.


  4. Under Section Start, select the type of section you want.


For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q77233 Continuous Section Breaks Become New Page Breaks in Landscape

Additional query words: 8.0 8.00 formatting page next

Keywords : wordnt word8 macword98 winword ntword macword word6 word7 word95 kbformat
Version : MACINTOSH:6.0,6.0.1; WINDOWS:6.0,6.0a,6.0c,7.0; winnt:6.0
Platform : MACINTOSH WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: September 22, 1999
© 2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.