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 by:
- On the Tools menu, click Preferences, and then click the View tab.
- Under Nonprinting Characters, click to select ALL.
- 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 (Type of Section Break) to indicate a section break and its type.
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.
To Insert a Section Break
- Click at the point where you want to start a new section.
- On the Insert menu, click Break.
- Under Section Breaks, select the option that describes what type of
section break you want, as described above.
- Click OK.
Determining the Type of Section Break
In Word, the type of section break is shown on your screen in parentheses,
after the words Section Break. This is not where the properties of that
section break are stored. The properties for the type of section break
indicated on the screen are stored in the next section break (which may
have a different type of section break indicated). If there is no
additional section break in your document, the properties for that section
break 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 farther into your document, on
Page 1, you insert a Next Page section break, in normal view, you see the
following:
Section Break (Odd Page)
<BR/><BR/>
Section Break (Next Page)
If you place your insertion point above Section Break (Odd Page), the
Status Bar will show Page 1 Sec 1. To see the actual properties for
the first section, on the Format menu, click Document 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 your insertion point is located or as shown
on the screen, Section Break (Odd Page).
If you place your insertion point between Section Break (Odd Page) and
Section Break (Next Page), the Status Bar will show Page 3 Sec 2. To
see the actual properties for the second section, on the Format menu,
click Document 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 as shown on the screen, Section Break
(Next Page).
If you place your insertion point below Section Break (Next Page), the
Status Bar will show: Page 4 Sec 3. To see the actual properties for
the third section, on the Format menu, click Document 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 last
paragraph mark of the document (since 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 Document dialog box.
To Delete a Section Break
For information about deleting a section break, please see the
following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
180273 What happens when you delete a section break