Setting the Distance between Text and Borders

One common formatting effect within Word is the application of borders around a paragraph. Word allows you to apply borders to all four sides of a paragraph—you can even have the borders be different from each other, if desired.

After applying border formatting, you may decide that you need some more room between the actual border lines and the text within the paragraph. You can easily adjust this distance by following these steps if you are using Word 2007:

1. Select the paragraphs you want to affect. (If you only need to format a single paragraph, just make sure the insertion point is within that paragraph.)
2. Display the Home tab of the ribbon.
3. In the Paragraph group, click the down-arrow to the right of the Borders tool. Word displays a series of choices, including a number of different borders you could add.
4. Select Borders and Shading. Word displays the Borders and Shading dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
5. If you had not previously done so, make sure you select the borders you want to appear around the paragraph.
6. Click on the Options button. Word displays the Border and Shading Options dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
7. Use the Top, Bottom, Left, and Right controls to specify, in points, the distance between the respective border and the paragraph text.
8. Click the OK button two times.

If you are using an older version of Word, follow these steps instead:

1. Select the paragraphs you want to affect. (If you only need to format a single paragraph, just make sure the insertion point is within that paragraph.)
2. Choose Borders and Shading from the Format menu. Word displays the Borders and Shading dialog box.
3. If you had not previously done so, make sure you select the borders you want to appear around the paragraph.
4. Click on the Options button. Word displays the Borders and Shading Options dialog box.
5. Use the Top, Bottom, Left, and Right controls to specify, in points, the distance between the respective border and the paragraph text.
6. Click the OK button two times.