Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Selecting Individual Cells in a Table.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 18, 2019)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
There are times when you will want to apply formatting to individual cells in a table, or you may need to perform some other action that requires selecting cells first. There are a couple of ways you can select a cell. If you are using the mouse, you can select a cell by moving the mouse pointer just to the left of the cell itself. The mouse pointer should point up and to the right. When you click on the mouse button, the entire cell should be selected.
Another way to select cells is to simply select the end-of-cell marker at the end of any text in the cell. This is especially easy if you are using the keyboard. All you need to do is make sure the insertion pointer is at the very end of your text (in the cell), and then hold down the Shift key as you press the Right Arrow key. The result is that the entire cell is selected.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1284) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Selecting Individual Cells in a Table.
Discover the Power of Microsoft Office This beginner-friendly guide reveals the expert tips and strategies you need to skyrocket your productivity and use Office 365 like a pro. Mastering software like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is essential to be more efficient and advance your career. Simple lessons guide you through every step, providing the knowledge you need to get started. Check out Microsoft Office 365 For Beginners today!
Creating a table in Word is a relatively simple task. When you want to format or edit information in the table, often the ...
Discover MoreWhen you print, do you get an extra blank page printed at the end of the document? It could be because of the final ...
Discover MoreInsert a manual page break into the middle of a table, and you may find that subsequent pages of the table don't always ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
2020-05-11 08:14:35
Shabbir
Thank you. This was very helpful.
2019-02-02 02:48:40
Avnish Singh
One need to press ....... Key to move forward in a sequence from one cell to other cell in ms word table
1~ enter
2~ tab
3~shift
4~spacebar
2017-10-26 15:01:06
Andrea
Thanks. Easy Peasy. I was trying to get the heavy black arrow to appear but I kept getting the table boundaries. Frustrating
2017-01-04 11:10:53
TJ
Exactly what I needed. Thanks!
2015-05-14 16:15:04
Will
Thank You!
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.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here:
Comments