Turning text sideways in Google Docs may seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually quite simple. Whether you’re looking to add a creative flair to your document or need to fit text into a narrow space, rotating text is a handy skill to have. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to confidently turn your text sideways and take your documents to the next level.
Step by Step Tutorial: How to Turn Text Sideways in Google Docs
Before diving into the steps, let’s understand what we’re trying to achieve. Google Docs doesn’t have a direct button to rotate text, but we can use a workaround involving tables and text boxes to get the job done.
Step 1: Insert a Table
Insert a single cell table into your document by clicking on ‘Insert’ then ‘Table’ and selecting a one-by-one table.
Tables in Google Docs are incredibly versatile. By inserting a single-cell table, we create a container that can hold our text and be manipulated in ways that normal text cannot.
Step 2: Add a Text Box
Inside the table cell, go to ‘Insert’ then ‘Drawing’ and select ‘+ New.’ In the drawing panel, click on the ‘Text box’ button and draw a text box inside the drawing canvas.
The drawing feature allows for more flexibility with text, including the ability to rotate it. Drawing a text box within the canvas gives us the control we need to turn our text sideways.
Step 3: Enter Your Text
Click inside the text box and type your desired text.
Remember, anything you type here will be what gets rotated, so make sure it’s exactly as you want it.
Step 4: Rotate the Text Box
Click on the text box to select it, then click on the ‘Actions’ menu. Select ‘Rotate’ and choose either ‘Clockwise 90’ or ‘Counterclockwise 90’ to turn your text sideways.
Rotating the text box is the key to changing the direction of your text. A 90-degree rotation in either direction will position your text sideways.
Step 5: Save and Close the Drawing
Once your text is rotated to your satisfaction, click ‘Save and Close’ to insert the drawing into your table cell.
The drawing, now containing your sideways text, will be placed inside the table cell you created earlier. It will behave much like an image, which means you can resize and move it as needed.
After completing these steps, you’ll see your text displayed sideways within the table cell. You can adjust the size of the cell or the drawing to better fit your document’s layout.
Tips for Turning Text Sideways in Google Docs
- Play around with the font size and style within the text box for added visual impact.
- Consider the readability of your text; vertical text can be harder to read, so choose your font and size carefully.
- If you need to edit the text, double-click on the drawing to reopen the drawing editor.
- Use the ‘Border color’ and ‘Background color’ options in the drawing tool to make your text stand out.
- Remember that you can rotate text to any angle within the drawing tool, not just 90 degrees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rotate text without using a table?
No, currently, Google Docs requires the use of a table cell to hold the rotated text as the text rotation feature is not directly available.
Will rotating text change the document’s formatting?
It might. When you add a table and a drawing, it could affect the spacing and layout of nearby text and elements. Adjust as needed.
Can I rotate text in Google Sheets or Google Slides?
Yes, both Google Sheets and Google Slides have their own methods for rotating text, which are different from Google Docs.
Is there a limit to how much text I can rotate?
Not really, but the more text you have, the larger your drawing canvas will need to be, which can be cumbersome to manage.
Can I rotate text to an angle that isn’t 90 degrees?
Yes, the drawing feature in Google Docs allows you to rotate text to any angle you desire.
Summary
- Insert a single-cell table.
- Add a text box inside a new drawing.
- Enter your text into the text box.
- Rotate the text box by 90 degrees.
- Save and close the drawing to insert it into the table cell.
Conclusion
There you have it, a simple and straightforward guide on how to turn text sideways in Google Docs. Whether you’re a student looking to add a creative touch to your assignments or a professional aiming to make your reports stand out, knowing how to manipulate text is an essential skill. With this knowledge, you can now tackle your documents with confidence, knowing that you have another tool in your arsenal to make them look just the way you want. And remember, Google Docs is more than just a word processor; it’s a canvas for your creativity. So go ahead, give it a try, and who knows what other tricks you might discover along the way!
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.