Using Text As a Page Border

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 25, 2025)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003

Word includes the possibility to add page borders to your documents. These borders can serve a valuable decorative purpose to enliven your creation. The page borders included with Word repeat around the edges of your page, regardless of page size.

Unfortunately, Word limits you to using only the page borders provided with Word. As of now, Microsoft provides no ability to create new page borders. For instance, you might want to include text that goes around the edges of your document as a border. You cannot do this using the native page borders feature.

There is a workaround, however. If you create your page borders as graphics, you can paste the graphics into your document. For example, you could use your favorite graphics program to create four narrow graphics, one for each edge of your paper. The graphics would consist of whatever text and art treatment you deemed appropriate. Then you can place the graphics along the four edges of your document pages.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1557) 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...

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