Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 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: Missing Top and Bottom Margins.
Rodney notes that when he opens a new document in Word the on-screen display of the pages shows the correct left and right margins, but not the correct top and bottom margins. The "pages" of paper shown on-screen in Print Layout view show no top and bottom margin at all. Rodney is wondering why this is happening.
What Rodney is seeing is actually a feature introduced in Word 2002. The feature allows Word to hide white space (including headers and footers) at the top and bottom of a page. This was done so that more real information could be shown on the screen and is particularly useful if you have a document that uses a lot of white space at the top and bottom of the page.
The problem is, it is easy to turn this feature on without even knowing it. If you move the mouse pointer to the top or bottom border of the on-screen page representation, you'll notice that it changes to a small icon that has two arrows facing each other vertically. If you click on the mouse when the pointer is in this condition, Word toggles the display of the top and bottom white space.
It's easy to hide the white space by clicking on the top or bottom page border without even knowing it. Then, not knowing what you've done, it's unclear how to get the white space back. You can also change the settings by using Word's menus and dialog boxes. Follow these steps:
Figure 1. The View tab of the Options dialog box.
Additional information on this feature and how it is used in Word can be found at these 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 (3925) applies to Microsoft Word 2002 and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Missing Top and Bottom Margins.
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2017-06-01 12:57:12
Lia
I checked different websites - couldn't find the solution. Your little tip solved the problem in no time. Thank you very much!
2016-08-18 12:56:31
When I open my word 2010, the cursor is at the middle of the page.It freezes to move up.How to change this?
2016-07-12 14:47:57
Penmere
I have MS word 2000, and 'white spaces' does not appear on the tools, options, view menu.
Regards
2016-06-27 15:12:46
Liz
100% works. All I did was double tap the double arrow icon and BOOM! Thanks so much, I have been having this problem for about a week until I found this page. Much more helpful than Microsoft's page! A*
2016-04-06 11:55:07
Shankar Rao
Thank you sir. This is so helpful.
2016-03-20 00:22:49
Valery R
thank you! This was so helpful.
2016-03-06 17:43:57
S.E.Isaac
You are my hero!!!! I am an author and could not figure out how to show the proper margin space on my document! Thanks a million!
Happy Reading!
S.E.Isaac
2016-02-06 13:55:16
Dougie
Frustration over.
Thank you.
2016-02-05 12:28:17
C.Daly
Thanks! Quick and easy fix to a minor annoyance.
2015-11-30 20:51:40
Kaatje van der Gaarden
THANK YOU! I'm hospitalized and still need to do my home work and I was so bummed out about the appearance of the pages. Very grateful to find your tip.
2015-10-21 19:04:58
ALBY
Thank you so much for this tip! It was really bugging me not to be able to the see the white space.
2015-10-19 03:34:49
Deepinder
Thanks.... facing problem from long time...finally resolved...
2015-10-16 23:47:01
Anonymous
Awesome! Thanks so much!
2015-10-12 19:27:47
Josh
Thank you so much!!
2015-06-01 04:19:28
Deborah
Thank you - saved a lot of time
2015-05-27 09:49:13
Laura
ohhhhh thank you!!!
2014-12-25 04:59:04
manir
thanks,, it helped me
2014-11-26 09:06:06
Steve M
Cheers, that was really getting on my nerves!
2014-11-09 13:08:57
Jeff
Thanks so much.
2014-11-03 09:22:53
Yves
helped a lot, thank you!
2014-08-13 08:17:10
Denzen
wow thanks!
2014-07-24 12:39:53
Ginger
still helping people like me....
2014-06-12 09:37:27
Ken
Should have added: THANKS VERY MUCH ! !
2014-06-12 09:35:04
Ken
Wow. This has been a problem for me for a long time. Finally found your solution.
2013-12-18 16:19:59
Kathleen
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I very much appreciate this information.
2013-11-27 13:01:06
Edward
it helps alot... 10nx
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.
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Copyright © 2020 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 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: 
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