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: Editing Wrap Points.

Editing Wrap Points

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 21, 2020)

When you insert a picture in Word, it defines a series of "wrap points" around the picture. By default there are four wrap points that surround the perimeter of the picture, forming a rectangle. When you wrap text around the picture, the wrap points define how close the text can come to the picture.

If you want, you can create custom wrapping of text by editing the wrap points so they more closely reflect exactly what you want. Simply follow these steps:

Insert your picture as you normally would, and make sure it is selected.
Make sure the Picture toolbar is displayed. If it is not, use the Toolbars option from the View menu to display it.
Click on the Text Wrapping tool on the Picture toolbar. Word displays a list of wrapping options.
Choose the last option in the list, Edit Wrap Points. Word displays the wrap points around the picture. They are small black boxes. Each of the wrap points is connected with a small dashed red line.
Move existing wrap points by clicking and dragging them to a new position.
Add new wrap points by clicking on the dashed red line at the position where you want a wrap point and dragging the new wrap point to the desired position.
Remove an existing wrap point by holding down the Ctrl key as you click on the wrap point.
When done adjusting wrap points, click anywhere outside the picture. The wrap points disappear, and your text follows the texture you defined when you edited the points.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1873) 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: Editing Wrap Points.

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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