What is a Section Break? How to Insert it?

Microsoft Word has many features, including tools that assist with formatting and page layout. Lengthy Word documents that lack proper formatting can be challenging to read. Section breaks are one method of formatting them, making the text more comprehensible.

What is a Section Break in Word?

A section break is a formatting feature in Microsoft Word that allows users to divide a document into separate sections, each with its own formatting settings. Section breaks are useful when one wants to apply different page layouts, headers, footers, margins, or other formatting options to various parts of a document.

There are various types of section breaks.

There are four types of Section Breaks in Microsoft Word:

  • Next Page Section Break: This inserts a section break and starts the new section on the subsequent page. It is commonly used when one wants to begin a new section on a fresh page.
    Next Page Section Break
    Next Page Section Break
  • Continuous Section Break: This feature inserts a section break while keeping the new section on the same page. It enables different formatting within a single page.
    Continuous Section Break
    Continuous Section Break
  • Odd Page Section Break: This feature inserts a section break and starts the new section on the next odd-numbered page. It is useful for ensuring that a section always begins on an odd page, such as in double-sided printing.
    Odd Page Section Break
    Odd Page Section Break
  • Even Page Section Break: This feature inserts a section break and starts the new section on the next even-numbered page. It is similar to the Odd Page Section Break but ensures that the section begins on an even-numbered page.
    Even Page Section Break
    Even Page Section Break

How do I insert a section break in Word?

Inserting it into a Word document is really simple. To insert a section break, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Word document in which you want to insert the section break.
    Open the Word document in which you want to insert the section break.
    Open the Word document in which you want to insert the section break.
  2. Click on the location where you want the section break to appear. This is typically at the end of a page or at the point where you want to start a new section.
  3. Go to the “Layout” tab in the Word ribbon at the top of the window.
    Go to the "Layout" tab.
    Go to the “Layout” tab.
  4. Look for the “Page Set-up” group, and within that group, you will find the “Breaks” button. Click on it.
    Look for "Breaks" in "Page Set-up".
    Look for “Breaks” in “Page Set-up”.
  5. A drop-down menu will appear with different types of breaks you can insert. Choose the appropriate break type based on your needs.
    Section Break drop down menu.
    Section Break drop down menu.
  6. After selecting the desired section break type, Word will insert it at the chosen point.

The appearance of section breaks may vary depending on the version of Word you are using, but the general steps should be similar across different versions.

How can I view and delete section breaks?

  1. Open the Word document.
    Open the Word document.
    Open the Word document.
  2. Go to the “Home” tab on the Word ribbon at the top of the window.
  3. Turn on the paragraph marks by clicking on the ¶ symbol in the “Home” tab. This will display the formatting symbols in your document.
    Turn on the paragraph marks by clicking on the ¶ symbol in the "Home" tab.
    Turn on the paragraph marks by clicking on the ¶ symbol in the “Home” tab.
  4. Place your cursor just before the section break you want to delete.
    Place your cursor just before the section break you want to delete.
    Place your cursor just before the section break you want to delete.
  5. Press the “Backspace” or “Delete” key on your keyboard to remove the Section Break. The content from the previous and following sections will merge.

Hopefully, this article has assisted you in understanding Section Breaks, how to add them to your Word documents, and has cleared up all of your formatting worries.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kevin Arrows


Kevin Arrows is a highly experienced and knowledgeable technology specialist with over a decade of industry experience. He holds a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification and has a deep passion for staying up-to-date on the latest tech developments. Kevin has written extensively on a wide range of tech-related topics, showcasing his expertise and knowledge in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. His contributions to the tech field have been widely recognized and respected by his peers, and he is highly regarded for his ability to explain complex technical concepts in a clear and concise manner.