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“Middle of the page” can mean two different things in Word. To center a paragraph from left to right, use Home > Paragraph > Center (or press Ctrl+E in Word for Windows). To place text halfway between the top and bottom margins, change the page’s Vertical alignment to Center in Page Setup. These settings do different jobs.
Center a paragraph horizontally
Horizontal centering places a paragraph between the left and right margins. It does not move the paragraph to the vertical midpoint of the page.
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Click in the paragraph you want to center. To center several paragraphs, select them first.
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Choose Home > Paragraph > Center. In Word for Windows, you can instead press Ctrl+E.
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The paragraph is centered left to right. Microsoft documents these paragraph-alignment instructions for Word, including Mac versions. Ribbon labels and locations may vary in other editions or localized interfaces. Microsoft’s guide to aligning or justifying text in Word.
Center text vertically on the page
Vertical alignment positions text between the top and bottom margins. Use this when, for example, you want a title or a short passage to sit midway down a page. Microsoft lists this Page Setup route for Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, 2021, 2019, and 2016.
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Open the Layout tab. In some versions, the tab is called Page Layout.
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In the Page Setup group, select the dialog launcher—the small arrow at the group’s lower-right corner.
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In the Page Setup dialog, open the Layout tab.
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Under Page, set Vertical alignment to Center.
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Choose the desired scope under Apply to. Select Selected text to apply the setting to the selected passage, then confirm with OK.
Page-level vertical alignment and paragraph alignment are separate controls: the former changes the up-and-down placement of text between the margins; the latter changes its left-to-right alignment. Microsoft’s page alignment instructions.
Center text inside a text box
If the words are inside a text box, use the box’s own vertical alignment setting. This centers content within the box, not between the page margins. In Word for Mac:
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Select the text box.
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Open the Shape Format pane and choose the Text Box options.
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Set vertical alignment to Middle.
Microsoft’s instructions for aligning text within a text box cover Word for Mac.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which setting should you use?
| What you want to center | Control | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| A paragraph left to right | Home > Paragraph > Center; Ctrl+E in Word for Windows | Paragraph alignment between the side margins |
| Text up and down on the page | Page Setup > Layout > Vertical alignment: Center | Text placement between the top and bottom margins |
| Text inside a box | Text Box vertical alignment: Middle (Word for Mac) | Content position inside that box |
Platform and accessibility notes
Microsoft’s instructions give desktop Word routes for page-level vertical alignment. Do not assume the same controls or labels appear in Word for the web, mobile editions, or every localized interface. Microsoft’s screen-reader guidance describes vertical alignment as positioning selected text relative to the top and bottom margins and notes that workflows can differ by platform. Microsoft’s screen-reader guide to aligning text and paragraphs.
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