How to Make Columns in Google Docs

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Matthew Burleigh

Making columns in Google Docs is a straightforward process that can enhance the layout of your document, making it more visually appealing and easier to read. First, open your Google Docs document and click on ‘Format’ in the top menu. From the dropdown menu, select ‘Columns’ and choose the number of columns you want. You can further customize the columns by clicking on ‘More options’. Finally, type or paste your text, and it will automatically flow into the columns you’ve created.

After you have completed these steps, your document will have a clean and structured layout, with text evenly distributed across the selected number of columns. This not only improves the document’s aesthetic appeal but also enhances readability, especially for documents like newsletters, brochures, or articles.

Introduction

Whether you’re creating a newsletter, a brochure, or just want to give your document a magazine-like feel, knowing how to make columns in Google Docs is a skill that can come in handy. Google Docs is a versatile tool that offers a variety of formatting options to enhance your documents, and creating columns is one of those options. In this guide, we will walk through the steps of creating columns, discuss why you might want to use them, and cover some pros and cons of using columns in your documents.

Related: How to Make Google Docs Two Columns

Step By Step to Making Google Docs Columns

  • Step 1: Open Your Document Begin by opening the Google Docs document you want to format. If you haven’t created a document yet, go to Google Docs and create a new one. This is your starting point to making your document look top-notch.
  • Step 2: Highlight the Text Highlight the text you want to format into columns. If you want the entire document to be in columns, press Ctrl+A (Command+A on Mac) to select all the text.
  • Step 3: Navigate to the Format Menu Click on ‘Format’ in the top menu. This is where Google Docs hides all the cool formatting options, including columns.
  • Step 4: Select Columns From the dropdown menu, hover over ‘Columns’, and a side menu will appear. Here, you can choose the number of columns you want. You can select one, two, or three columns, or more if you click on ‘More options’.
  • Step 5: Customize (Optional) If you clicked on ‘More options’, you can customize the spacing and the line between the columns. This is where you get to tweak the columns to look just the way you want them.
  • Step 6: Type or Paste Your Text Now that you’ve set up your columns, you can start typing or paste your text, and it will automatically flow into the columns. You’ve done it! Your document now looks organized and visually appealing.

Why Use Columns?

Columns are not just for newspapers. They can make your document easier to read, especially if it’s text-heavy. Columns break up the text, guiding the reader’s eye and preventing fatigue. They are also great for creating layouts for newsletters or brochures, giving your document a professional touch. If you want your document to stand out and be easy on the eyes, columns are the way to go.

Pros

  • Enhanced Readability: Columns make long chunks of text more manageable and pleasing to the eye.
  • Professional Layout: Using columns can give your document a polished and professional look.
  • Better Use of Space: Columns help in utilizing the space on a page more efficiently, especially for documents with images and text.

Cons

  • Text Flow Issues: Sometimes, getting the text to flow the way you want in columns can be tricky.
  • Limited Customization: Google Docs offers limited customization options for columns compared to more advanced design software.
  • Learning Curve: For beginners, it might take some time to get the hang of using columns effectively.

Additional Information

When working with columns in Google Docs, remember that you can always go back and adjust the number of columns or their spacing until you get the desired look. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different settings to see what works best for your document.

Summary – Making Columns in Google Docs

  1. Open your Google Docs document.
  2. Highlight the text you want to format.
  3. Click on ‘Format’ in the top menu.
  4. Hover over ‘Columns’ and select the number of columns.
  5. Customize the columns if needed.
  6. Start typing or paste your text.

FAQs

  1. Can I add columns to only a specific part of the document? Yes, you can add columns to a specific part of the document by highlighting the text you want to format before selecting the column option.
  2. Is it possible to have different numbers of columns on the same page? Yes, you can have different numbers of columns on the same page by sectioning off the text and formatting each section separately.
  3. Can I adjust the spacing between columns? Yes, you can adjust the spacing between columns by clicking on ‘More options’ when selecting your columns and changing the spacing settings.
  4. Is there a limit to how many columns I can have in a Google Docs document? While Google Docs allows you to have multiple columns, the practical limit is determined by the readability and the layout you are trying to achieve.
  5. Can I add a line between columns? Yes, you can add a line between columns through the ‘More options’ menu in the ‘Columns’ formatting section.

Conclusion

Mastering the art of creating columns in Google Docs can take your documents to the next level, providing a professional and organized look. Whether you are working on a newsletter, a brochure, or just want to enhance the readability of your document, columns are a fantastic tool to use. Follow the steps outlined in this guide, and you’ll be a column pro in no time!

Matthew Burleigh

Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech content online for more than ten years. He enjoys writing about Google Docs in addition to many other applications and devices and has cumulatively covered Google’s word-processing application in hundreds of different articles.

He has been published on dozens of popular websites, and his works have accumulated millions of pageviews.
While focused primarily on tutorials and guides for popular electronics like the iPhone and iPad, as well as common applications like Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, and Excel, he covers topics across the entire technology spectrum.

You can read his bio here.

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