Setting the Distance between Text and Borders

Summary: Word allows you to add borders around paragraphs. For most people, the distance between the border and the text in the paragraph is too little. Here's how to control that distance very precisely. (This tip works with Microsoft Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, and Word 2003.)

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:

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.)
Choose Borders and Shading from the Format menu. Word displays the Borders and Shading dialog box.
The Borders tab should be selected. (Click here to see a related figure.)
If you had not previously done so, make sure you select the borders you want to appear around the paragraph.
Click on the Options button. Word displays the Borders and Shading Options dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
Use the Top, Bottom, Left, and Right controls to specify, in points, the distance between the respective border and the paragraph text.
Click the OK button two times.

Tip #148 applies to Microsoft Word versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

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Setting the Distance between Text and Borders