Changing Text Orientation

Word provides you with the capability of changing the orientation of your text, provided that the text is within an AutoShape, text box, or table cell. This means that you can rotate this type of text ninety degrees, in either direction, from its normal appearance. To change text orientation, follow these steps if you are using a version of Word prior to Word 2007:

1. Select the AutoShape, text box, or table cell that contains the text whose orientation you want to change.
2. Choose the Text Direction option from the Format menu. Word displays the Text Direction dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
3. Choose an orientation from those offered.
4. Click on OK.

If you are using Word 2007, then things are a bit different. Go ahead and select the AutoShape, text box, or table cell that contains the text whose orientation you want to change. When you do so, Word should display a ruler tab specific to whatever you selected. That ruler tab should have a control, somewhere on it, named Text Direction. (If it is not visible on the ruler tab, check to see if there are two special ruler tabs for the object you selected. If so, chances are good that the Text Direction control is on the other tab.) Click the Text Direction control, and the text in the object is rotated to a different direction. Keep clicking, and Word steps through the available orientations until you get to the one you want.