This three-page document explains how to organize information in tables in Microsoft Word.

1. [Company Logo] Microsoft Office Tip of the Month
April 2015 Page 1
Microsoft Office Tip of the Month: April 2015
Organizing Information in Tables in Microsoft Word
Have you ever tried to line up information in columns in Microsoft Word using the Tab key?
Sometimes it works, but often it does not. This month’s Microsoft Office tip demonstrates how
to use Microsoft Word’s tables feature to line information up in columns easily.
For example, perhaps you need to create a list of office supplies to order for the people on your
team, like the example below:
Name Item Approx. Cost
Mea Black pens (12) $10.19
Roberto Hanging File Folders $23.43
Hailey Paper clips $6.73
Bill Stapler $25.26
 Note: You could certainly create this type of list in an Excel worksheet. However, for the sake
of this month’s tip, let’s assume you are including this table in a document with paragraphs of
text. In addition, if the text in each cell is longer than one line allows, the text automatically
word wraps to the next line within that cell.
Inserting a Table
If the Insert Table button is on your Quick Access Toolbar, as shown below, use it.
However, if the Insert Table button is not on your Quick Access Toolbar, use the Insert ribbon.
 To insert a table:
1. Click in the Word document where you want to insert a table.
2. Click the Insert ribbon, and then click the Table button.
A grid appears, as shown below, allowing you to drag over the number of columns and rows you
want:

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April 2015 Page 2
3. Starting with the upper-left white square under Insert Table, press and hold your mouse
and drag right and down to determine how many columns (across) and rows (down) you
want:
In the example below, I’m creating a 3x3 table:
When you release your mouse button, the table appears in your document.
Entering Information in a Table
You can enter information into one cell at a time within the table. To move to the next cell, press
the Tab key. If you’re in the last cell of the table when you press Tab, you add a new row at the
bottom of the table. Use Shift+Tab to move to the previous cell. You can also use the left and
right arrow keys, but that technique is slower because—if there is text inside the cells—it moves
you one character at a time in that direction.
 To enter information in a table:
1. Type in the first cell and press Tab to the move to the next cell.
2. Type in the next cell and press Tab to move to the next cell or Shift+Tab to move to the
previous cell.
3. When done typing in the last cell in the row, press Tab to move to the first cell in the next
row.
4. Continue typing into each cell and pressing Tab to move to the next cell.
5. When you are in the last cell of the table, press Tab to add a new row at the bottom of the
table.
Inserting a Row in the Middle of a Table
At some point, you’re going to want to insert a row in the middle of the table. To do so,
highlight a row and use the shortcut menu to specify where you want to insert the row.
 To insert a row in the middle of a table:
1. Point to the far left of the row you want to insert above or below and click to select the row.
Notice in the screen shot below that, when your mouse pointer is at the far left of the page, it’s a white
arrow tipping in at the row:

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2. Right-click on the selected row to show the shortcut menu, point at Insert on the shortcut
menu, and then click on Insert Rows Above or Insert Rows Below.
The new row appears either above or below the row or rows you selected.
Inserting a Column in the Table
Inserting a column is very similar to inserting a row. Select the column you want to insert to the
left of or to the right of, and right-click to show the shortcut menu.
 To insert a column in a table:
1. Point just barely above the column you want to select and click.
Notice in the screen shot below that your mouse pointer is a black arrow pointing down at the column:
2. Right-click on the selected column to show the shortcut menu, point at Insert on the
shortcut menu, and then click Insert Columns to the Left or Insert Columns to the Right.
Deleting Rows or Columns
Deleting rows or columns is very similar to inserting them. Select the row or column to delete,
and use the shortcut menu.
 To delete a row or a column:
1. Select the row or column you want to delete.
2. Right-click in the selected row or column and click Delete Columns or Delete Rows.
Word is smart enough to recognize whether you have a column or row selected and only shows the
appropriate delete option.
Changing the Width of a Column
The easiest way to change the width of columns is to use the mouse pointer on the gridline to
the right of the column. You do not have to select anything first.
 To change the width of a column:
1. Point at the gridline to the right of the column you want to resize.
Notice your mouse pointer changes shape, as shown in the screen shot below:
2. Press and hold your mouse button and drag to the left or the right.