Selecting Text Orientation for an Axis in Microsoft Graph

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated November 22, 2025)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003

As you are working with a chart in Microsoft Graph, you might find if helpful to change how text appears on an axis. For instance, you might want the text to be vertical instead of horizontal. Microsoft Graph makes it easy to change this:

Select the axis whose text you wish to alter. Do this by clicking on the axis with the mouse.
Choose Selected Axis from the Format menu. Microsoft Graph displays the Format Axis dialog box.
Make sure the Alignment tab is selected. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. The Alignment tab of the Format Axis dialog box

Specify an orientation for the text, in degrees. You can pick any setting from 90 degrees to -90 degrees. You can also click on the vertical orientation bar, at the left side of the dialog box.
Click on OK.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (706) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

MORE FROM ALLEN

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

Nothing beats a screen shot when you are trying to convey information about using the computer. With just a couple of ...

Discover More

Securing Your Signature

If you want to "sign" your documents, you might be tempted to insert a graphic scan of your signature into them. Before ...

Discover More

Including a Leading Zero in Numbered Lists

Word allows you to easily apply numbered lists to your paragraphs. You may decide that you want the numbers in the list ...

Discover More

Learning Made Easy! Quickly teach yourself how to format, publish, and share your content using Word 2021 or Microsoft 365. With Step by Step, you set the pace, building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them! Check out Microsoft Word Step by Step today!

More WordTips (menu)

Importing Excel Information Into Chart

Microsoft Graph is great for displaying charts in a document, without the need to actually use Excel. However, your data ...

Discover More

Controlling Chart Gridlines

Gridlines are often added to charts to help improve the readability of the data presented in the chart. Here's how you ...

Discover More

Changing Datasheet Column Width

To see information in a datasheet better, you may need to adjust column width.

Discover More

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

Notify me about new comments ONLY FOR THIS TIP

Notify me about new comments ANYWHERE ON THIS SITE

Hide my email address

What is 6 + 6?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)

This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.