How to Add Line Numbers in MS Word [Step-by-Step Pics]

Have you ever been curious about adding line numbers to your Word document? You’re not alone! Microsoft Word, a widely-used tool for various purposes, such as composing scripts and drafting legal documents, includes numerous valuable features, including the ability to view line numbers in your document.

While Word automatically counts characters and words, it does not display line numbers by default. However, adding them is straightforward. In this guide, we will walk you through understanding line numbers in Word, considerations to keep in mind, and detailed instructions on how to add line numbers to your document or selected sections.

We will also discuss customizing line numbers, removing them, and the benefits they offer. Prepare to enhance your Word documents with line numbers.

What are Line Numbers in Word?

Line numbers in Microsoft Word act as markers for each line of text in your document, giving each line a unique number. These helpful numbers assist in navigating a document, particularly when collaborating with others.

They allow you and your team to quickly and accurately discuss specific document sections. They are especially beneficial during reviews.

Line numbers make giving and receiving feedback easier, which is important in environments like educational institutions, legal offices, or any professional setting where referencing specific document parts is crucial.

Things to Keep in Mind

When adding line numbers in Word, consider these points:

• A table, regardless of its size, is counted as a single line.
• Similarly, figures are also considered one line each.
• Text boxes in Word are slightly different. They count as one line as well, but if there’s text wrapped around them, those lines are included. Text lines within the text box are not counted in the line numbering.

How to Add Line Numbers in Word?

Adding line numbers to your Word document is a simple process that enhances organization and navigation. Whether you aim to number every line in the complete document or just in particular sections, Word provides effortless methods for achieving this.

Let’s explore the steps for both methods to seamlessly add line numbers to your document.

1. Add Line Numbers to an Entire Document

To add line numbers to your entire Word document, follow these simple steps:

1. Open Word and navigate to the “Layout” tab. In older versions of Word, this feature is found under “Page Layout“.
   

   

2. Under “Page Setup,” locate and click on “Line Numbers.”
   

   

3. Choose from the following options:

• If you wish for sequential numbering throughout the document, select “Continuous.”
  

  

• To restart numbering at 1 on each new page, choose “Restart Each Page.”
  

  

• To begin at 1 after each section break, select “Restart Each Section.”
  

  

2. Add Line Numbers to a Section or Multiple Sections

To add line numbers to just one section or several sections of your Word document, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the “Layout” tab and click on “Line Numbers.”
   

   

2. Click “Line Numbering Options.”
   

   

3. Select the “Layout” tab.
   

   

4. Under the “Apply to” list, choose “Selected sections.”
   

   

5. Click the “Line Numbers” menu again.
   

   

6. Tick the “Add line numbering” box, select the desired options, and click “OK.”
   

   

Customize Line Numbers in Word

After adding line numbers to your Word document, you can adjust their appearance and behavior.

1. From the “Layout” tab, click on the “Line Numbers” option and select “Line Numbering Options.”
   

   

2. Click the “Line Numbers” button again.
   

   

A dialog box will appear, offering different line numbering options. Here, you can disable line numbering or make adjustments:

• Start at: Set the starting number for line numbering.
• From text: Determine the distance of line numbers from your text.
• Count by: Choose to display line numbers on every line or set intervals, like every second or third line.
  

  

3. Adjust these settings as desired and click “OK.”
   

   

4. Finally, click “OK” again to exit the Page Setup dialog box.
   

   

Your line number preferences will now be applied.

Remove Line Numbers in Word

If you decide to eliminate line numbers from your document later, you can do this easily for the entire document or specific sections.

To remove line numbers from the entire document:

1. Go to the “Layout” tab and access “Line Numbers.”
2. Select “None.”

To remove numbering from a specific paragraph:

1. Place your cursor on the paragraph.
2. Open the “Line Numbers” drop-down menu and choose “Suppress for Current Paragraph.”

Repeat for any other paragraphs from which you want to remove numbering.

Why Add Line Numbers?

Incorporating line numbers in your document might seem minor, but it can significantly enhance readability, usability, and organization. Here are some reasons why adding line numbers is beneficial:

• Facilitates Collaboration: Line numbers make it easy for collaborators to discuss specific document parts without confusion.
• Simplifies Document Review: Line numbers streamline reviews, making them faster and more precise, especially in academic, legal, or team settings.
• Enhances Document Navigation: Line numbers help quickly locate different sections in lengthy or complex documents.
• Complies with Formatting Requirements: In some contexts, such as legal documents, line numbers are required to meet specific formatting guidelines.
• Improves Reference Accuracy: Line numbers provide precise reference points, essential in academic and professional writing.
• Assists in Legal and Scholarly Work: Line numbers clarify and enhance credibility in legal documents and academic papers when citing specific lines.