Understanding the Gutter Margin

Summary: Word gives you complete control over the margins defined in a document. One special type of margin you can define is the gutter margin, which is an "additional" margin space helpful for binding or hole-punching needs. (This tip works with Microsoft Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, and Word 2003.)

The gutter margin is a typographical term used to designate an additional margin added to a page layout to compensate for the part of the paper made unusable by the binding process. In a facing pages layout (Word refers to this type of layout as "mirror margins"), the gutter margin is on the very inside of both pages. It is uncommon to use a gutter margin in a single-sheet layout, although Word allows you to do that. In single-sheet layouts, the gutter margin is typically the area where you might three-hole punch your paper.

To set the gutter margin in Word, you follow these steps:

Choose Page Setup from the File menu. Word displays the Page Setup dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
Using the Gutter control, indicate how wide you want the gutter margin to be.
Click OK.

Tip #172 applies to Microsoft Word versions: 97 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003

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Understanding the Gutter Margin