How to Make Columns in Word Without Vertical Lines

To make columns in Word without a divider, place the cursor in the text or select the text, then choose Layout > Columns > More Columns, set the number of columns, make sure Line between is unchecked, and select OK. The text will flow between clean, side-by-side columns with a gap but no vertical rule. Before you start, decide whether the columns should apply to the whole document, one section, or only selected text.

What You’ll Need

Microsoft Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, or a recent desktop version of Word. The ribbon labels may vary slightly in older versions.
The text you want to format, if it is already written. You can also set up columns first and type into them afterward.
A saved copy of the document if you are changing a long or carefully formatted file. Column formatting can affect text flow and page breaks.

Step-by-Step

Open the document and choose where the columns belong. To format the entire document, leave the insertion point anywhere in the text and do not select anything. To format only a portion, select the paragraphs you want in columns. Include complete paragraphs where possible; selecting part of a paragraph can make Word create extra section boundaries or produce a layout that is harder to adjust. If the columns should start at a particular point and continue to the end, place the cursor there rather than selecting text.
Open the column settings. Select the Layout tab on the ribbon, then choose Columns and More Columns. In some versions, the tab may be called Page Layout. The More Columns dialog gives you control over the number of columns, their widths, the gap between them, and the divider line.
Choose a column count. In the dialog, pick a preset such as Two or Three, or type a number in the Number of columns box. Two columns work well for newsletter-style text, while three can suit short entries or a compact list. More columns make each column narrower, so check that your words and any images still fit comfortably.
Turn off the divider. Find the checkbox labeled Line between and make sure it is not selected. This option controls the vertical rule between columns; it does not remove the space between them. If the box is already clear, leave it clear. You can still have distinct columns because Word uses their widths and the gap to define the layout.
Set the gap and widths if needed. Word usually starts with equal-width columns and a standard space between them. To adjust the gap, change the Spacing value. To make columns different widths, clear Equal column width if that option is available, then set each column’s width and spacing. Leave enough room for readable text. A very narrow column can create awkward word breaks and make a page look crowded even when there is no line.
Choose where the formatting applies. Check the Apply to menu in the dialog. Use Whole document for columns throughout the file, This section for the current section, or Selected text when you selected a passage. If you want columns to begin at the cursor and continue after it, choose This point forward. The available choices depend on your selection and document structure. When Word applies columns to selected text, it may insert section breaks around that text so the surrounding paragraphs can keep their existing layout.
Apply the settings and inspect the page. Select OK, then scroll through the formatted pages. Check that the columns have the intended width, the text runs in the expected order, and no unwanted divider appears. If you chose a preset and the result is too tight, reopen Layout > Columns > More Columns and adjust the spacing or width rather than adding manual spaces.
Control where text moves to the next column. By default, Word fills the first column and then continues at the top of the next one. To begin a new column at a specific point, place the cursor before the text that should start there and select Layout > Breaks > Column. In Word for Windows, Ctrl+Shift+Enter inserts a column break. On a Mac, try Command+Shift+Return; if that shortcut is unavailable or intercepted, use the Breaks menu. A column break is useful for balancing a short final column or starting a new article in the next column.
Save and check the document in Print Layout. Use View > Print Layout to review how the page will appear when printed or exported. Look at the bottom of each column and page as well as the top of the next one. Text may reflow if you change fonts, margins, page size, or wording, so a final visual check is worthwhile before sharing the file.

Common Mistakes

Choosing a preset without checking Line between. The preset buttons set column layouts, but the divider is controlled by its own checkbox. If a vertical rule appears, reopen More Columns and confirm that Line between is unchecked. Do not try to erase the line with the Delete key; it is a layout setting, not a character in the text.

Applying columns to the wrong area. If the whole document changes when you meant to format one passage, check the Apply to setting and look for section breaks. Conversely, if only one page changes, the cursor may have been inside a section with its own layout. Word stores page layout settings by section, so a document can contain different column arrangements on different pages.

Using tabs or repeated spaces to imitate columns. Manual spaces can shift when a font, margin, or page size changes. They also do not make real flowing columns. Use the Columns command for continuous text. For separate items that must stay aligned row by row, use a table instead and remove its borders if you want a borderless appearance.

Expecting separate text boxes. Word columns are a continuous text flow: text moves down the first column and then continues in the next. They are not independent areas where you can freely place unrelated content. If each side needs different content or precise positioning, consider a table with hidden borders or text boxes rather than newspaper-style columns.

Confusing a column gap with a line. The gap is empty space between columns and remains when the divider is turned off. It helps readers distinguish the columns. Setting the gap to zero can make the text look like one crowded block, so keep a visible but moderate separation.

Tips

Use section breaks for mixed layouts. If just one part of a page should be in columns, create a section around that content. On Windows, place the cursor where the new layout should start and choose Layout > Breaks > Continuous. Add another continuous section break after the column text if the following content should return to one column. Then place the cursor in the relevant section and set its columns. A continuous break keeps the next section on the same page when there is room; a next-page section break starts the section on another page.
Use a column break for deliberate starts. A column break is cleaner than pressing Enter repeatedly to push a heading or paragraph down. If you later edit the text above it, the break stays attached to the document flow and Word recalculates the layout more predictably.
Keep headings with the text they introduce. A heading at the bottom of one column with its paragraph at the top of the next can be confusing. If this happens, insert a column break before the heading or adjust the preceding text. You can also use paragraph pagination settings, such as keeping a heading with the next paragraph, when appropriate.
Consider images and lists before setting widths. Wide pictures, long URLs, tables, and numbered lists can make narrow columns difficult to read. Resize an image or choose fewer columns if content protrudes or forces unexpected whitespace. Review list numbering after changing the layout, especially when lists continue across a column break.
Use readable spacing rather than a visible rule. A divider is not required for separation. A sensible gap, consistent margins, and aligned column starts usually provide enough visual structure. For a newsletter or handout, preview the page at normal reading size, not just while zoomed far in on the screen.

Troubleshooting

A line still appears between the columns. Open Layout > Columns > More Columns, select the correct number of columns, and clear Line between. If the line remains, it may be a border belonging to a table, a paragraph, or a shape rather than a column divider. Click near it and check whether Word shows table borders or drawing handles. A column divider is controlled by the Columns dialog; a paragraph border can be adjusted from Home > Borders, and a shape can be selected and deleted or reformatted.

Only part of the document changed. Click in the affected text and reopen More Columns. Check the Apply to value and whether the text sits inside a section. Turn on formatting marks with Home > ¶ to find section breaks. If an unwanted section break is present, remove it carefully: deleting a section break can make the preceding section’s layout settings apply to the text that follows. Save a copy first if the document has several custom layouts.

Text flows into the next column too soon or too late. Look for a manual column break or page break that forces the flow. Turn on formatting marks to locate break markers, click immediately before an unwanted break, and delete it. If you want the next paragraph to start in the next column, add a column break from Layout > Breaks > Column. Avoid using many blank paragraphs to position text because later edits can shift them unpredictably.

The columns look uneven or content is cut off. Word naturally fills columns according to the amount of text and the location of breaks. Remove unintended breaks, check for a large image or table, and review the column widths and spacing in More Columns. If the last column is shorter, that may be normal when the text ends. To balance text across columns in a section, check whether your Word version offers a section-ending continuous break or adjust where the section ends; do not add empty paragraphs just to force an appearance.

The Mac menus do not match these steps. In current Word for Mac, look for the Layout tab and its Columns and Breaks controls. Some releases place column controls under Format > Columns instead. The dialog has the same essential choices, including column count, spacing, and the divider option. If a keyboard shortcut differs, use the menu command rather than relying on the Windows shortcut.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make two columns without a line in Word?
Yes. Choose Layout > Columns > More Columns, select Two, clear Line between, and select OK. The columns remain separated by the spacing gap.

Will the columns print without the divider?
Yes, provided Line between is unchecked and the apparent line is not a separate border or shape. Check the page in Print Layout or Print Preview before printing. The columns themselves and their text will print; the empty gap will not become a rule.

How do I put only one paragraph or section into columns?
Select the passage and choose the column settings, then choose Selected text under Apply to if that option appears. For a more controlled layout, place continuous section breaks before and after the passage, then format that section. A single paragraph can be placed in columns, though the result may be cramped if it contains little text.

Can I make each column hold different text?
Not as independent content areas with the standard Columns feature. Word flows one continuous story from column to column. For separate blocks that need to remain side by side, use a borderless table: insert a two-column table, put each block in its own cell, then use Table Design > Borders to remove the borders.

How do I make text start at the top of the second column?
Place the cursor before the text that should begin there, then choose Layout > Breaks > Column. This inserts a column break without adding a divider. If you later remove or edit the text above it, check that the break still falls in the right place.

Why is there a gap between the columns if I turned off the line?
The line and the gap are separate settings. Line between turns the vertical rule on or off, while column spacing controls the blank area between text blocks. Keep some spacing so the columns are easy to distinguish; change the spacing in More Columns if the gap looks too wide or narrow.

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