Margins
A margin is the blank space surrounding a document on all sides. You are keying this paragraph using the left and right
default margins-the margins the computer automatically sets. The default margins are a 1.25 (1 ¼”) inch left and 1.25
right margin. A standard piece of paper is 8.5 inches wide so that leaves 6 inches for the characters (8.5 wide – 1.25
left – 1.25 right = 6). You can see on the ruler below that 6 inches (the part that is not shaded) is the keying space.
One way to change the margins is to drag the left or right margin boundary. To move the left margin, hold the
mouse pointer over the left margin boundary until it reads left margin and has a double headed arrow then click, hold,
and drag. Release it when it is where you want the left margin. The same thing can be done to move the right margin.
Notice where the margins are now on the ruler because you will move them back after you do the following. Read and
key the rest of this paragraph then then you move the margins. Move the left margin so that there is 3 inches of
keying space. Move the left margin back by clicking on undo formatting under Edit. Move the right margin so that
there is 4 inches of keying space. Move the right margin back by clicking on undo formatting under Edit. Notice that
when you drag the margin boundaries, the margins for the entire document change.
After you have finished keying this paragraph, you will change the margins for this paragraph. Another way to
change the left and right margin is to use the Page Setup on the File menu. Highlight only this paragraph; click on the
File menu and drag down to Page Setup. On the Margins tab change the left margin to 4 inches (it will look like 4.0” )
and the right margin to 3 inches. In the Apply to box, click Selected Text. Word will automatically insert a section break
and this last paragraph will have different margins. (Page setup is also used to set the margins for the whole
document.)
Is your header info on this document? Be sure to spell check and PROOFREAD before you print.