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How to Add and Edit Shapes in Microsoft Word

There are different shapes, from the edgeless circle to the 4-edged square. You can add and edit these different shapes in your document in Microsoft Word. Whether for illustration purposes or to provide supplementary information, there are no restrictions to the type of shape you can add in Word.

shapes assignment in ms word

However, the type of shape you can have in a Word document depends on the method you take to add or edit it. This is because Microsoft Word has different ways to add and edit shapes. We explain the different methods below:

How to Add a Shape in Microsoft Word

To insert a shape in Word, you can choose between two options. The first option would be to insert in-built/default shapes, while the second would be to draw a shape. These two options have their respective advantages, which are explained below:

How to Insert an In-Built/ Default Shape in Word

Word has an Insert Shape feature on the Ribbon which houses some commonly known shapes. If your document requires a standard shape such as a square or circle, using the Insert Shape feature saves you time. Here’s how to insert a standard shape in your Word document.

Step 1: Click the Start button on the Taskbar and type word to search for the app.

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 2: From the results, click on the Microsoft Word app or document to open it.

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 3: On the Word Ribbon, click the Insert tab.

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 4: Click the Shapes option in the Illustrations group.

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 5: From the Shapes drop-down, select the shape you would like to add from any of these sections:

  • Recently Used Shapes
  • Basic Shapes
  • Block Arrows
  • Equation Shapes
  • Stars and Banners

shapes assignment in ms word

After selecting your preferred shape, your cursor should change to a + icon.

Step 6: Place the + icon on the Word canvas and drag your mouse to get the desired size of your selected shape.

shapes assignment in ms word

How to Draw a Shape in Word

You can draw a shape if it isn’t among the Insert Shape option in the Word Ribbon. With the Freeform Shape, Freeform Scribble, and Connector tools in Word, you can create a unique shape. Here’s how to do that.

How to Draw a Shape in Word Using Freeform Shape and Freeform Scribble

For shapes with a hand-drawn appearance or both straight and curved segments, you can use Freeform tools. Here’s how to do that:

Step 5: In the Lines section, click either of these options:

  • Freeform Shape: draw a shape with straight and curved segments.
  • Freeform Scribble: to draw a shape with a hand-drawn appearance or smooth curves.

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 6: Place the + icon on the Word canvas and drag your mouse to draw your desired shape. To draw a curved segment, keep holding down your mouse as you draw till you get your desired shape. To draw a straight segment, click one location, move your pointer to a different location, and then click again.

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 7: After drawing your shape, click the starting point of the drawing to close the shape.

shapes assignment in ms word

How to Draw a Shape in Word Using Connector

In Word, the connector is a line with connection points at each end. You can connect these different connection points to create a shape or attach it to other shapes to create a new shape. Here’s how to do so:

  • Connector: Elbow
  • Connector: Elbow Arrow
  • Connector: Elbow Double-Arrow
  • Connector: Curved
  • Connector: Curved Arrow
  • Connector: Curved Double-Arrow

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 6: Place the + icon on the Word canvas and drag your mouse to get the initial shape of the connector.

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 7: Repeat Step 5 to join new connectors to the original connector until you get your desired shape.

shapes assignment in ms word

How to Edit a Shape in Microsoft Word

After inserting or drawing your shape in Microsoft Word, you may want to change it. You may want to change from a square to a rectangle or change a right-angled triangle to an equilateral triangle. Here’s how you can edit the shapes:

How to Change a Shape to Another Shape

To change one shape to another, here’s how you can do so:

Step 1: Click the original shape in the Word document to view the Shape Format tab on the Word Ribbon.

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 2: In the Shape Format tab, click the Edit Shape option.

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 3: Click Change Shape.

Step 4: Select your preferred shape from the following:

shapes assignment in ms word

Your old shape will be replaced with your new selection.

How to Edit Points in a Shape

If you would like to maintain the default appearance of a standard shape but slightly edit its form, you can do so by editing points of the shape. Here’s how to do so:

Step 3: Click Edit Points. This will show the major points of the shape.

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 4: Click and drag any of the points on the shape to change its form.

shapes assignment in ms word

How to Delete a Shape in Microsoft Word

Deleting a shape in Word is quite straightforward. Here’s how to do so.

Step 1: Click the shape you want to delete, then press the Backspace or Delete key on your keyboard.

Step 2: For multiple shapes, click the first shape, and hold down the Ctrl key while selecting other shapes. Press the Delete key on your keyboard after selecting all the shapes.

shapes assignment in ms word

Creating Custom Templates in Microsoft Word

Templates are resources that can help you save time on repetitive tasks. You can create custom templates in Microsoft Word, and they can take any form you want. You can also insert shapes into the custom Word templates.

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Last updated on 10 July, 2023

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shapes assignment in ms word

The article above may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. The content remains unbiased and authentic and will never affect our editorial integrity.

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shapes assignment in ms word

Maria Victoria

Maria is a Content Writer with a keen interest in Technology and Productivity Tools. Her articles can be found on sites such as Onlinetivity and Delesign. Outside of work, you can find her mini-blogging about her life on social media.

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Word 2013  - Shapes

Word 2013  -, word 2013 shapes.

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Word 2013: Shapes

Lesson 20: shapes.

/en/word2013/formatting-pictures/content/

Introduction

You can add a variety of shapes to your document, including arrows, callouts, squares, stars, and flowchart shapes. Want to set your name and address apart from the rest of your resume? Use a line. Need to create a diagram showing a timeline or process? Use flowchart shapes. While you may not need shapes in every document you create, they can add visual appeal and clarity .

Optional: Download our practice document .

To insert a shape:

  • Select the Insert tab, then click the Shapes command. A drop-down menu of shapes will appear.

Screenshot of Word 2013

If you want, you can enter text in a shape. When the shape appears in your document, you can begin typing. You can then use the formatting options on the Home tab to change the font, font size, or color of the text.

Screenshot of Word 2013

To resize a shape:

Screenshot of Word 2013

Some shapes also have one or more yellow handles that can be used to modify the shape. For example, with star shapes you can adjust the length of the points.

Screenshot of Word 2013

To rotate the shape, click, hold, and drag the rotation handle.

Screenshot of Word 2013

To change the order of shapes:

If one shape overlaps another, you may need to change the ordering so the correct shape appears in front. You can bring a shape to the front or send it to the back . If you have multiple images, you can use Bring Forward or Send Backward to fine tune the ordering. You can also move a shape in front of or behind text.

Screenshot of Word 2013

In some cases, the ordering option you select will not affect the ordering of the shapes. If this happens, try selecting the same option again or try a different option.

If you have many shapes placed on top of each other, it may be difficult to select an individual shape. The Selection Pane allows you to select a shape and drag it to a new location. To access the Selection Pane, click Selection Pane on the Format tab.

Screenshot of Word 2013

Modifying shapes

Word allows you to modify your shapes in a variety of ways so you can tailor them to your projects. You can change a shape into a different shape , format a shape's style and color , and add shadow effects .

To change to a different shape:

  • Select the shape you want to change. The Format tab will appear.

Screenshot of Word 2013

To change the shape style:

Choosing a shape style allows you to apply preset colors and effects to quickly change the appearance of your shape.

  • Select the shape you want to change.

Screenshot of Word 2013

  • The shape will appear in the selected style.

To change the shape fill color:

  • On the Format tab, click the Shape Fill drop-down arrow. The Shape Fill menu appears.

Screenshot of Word 2013

  • The shape will appear in the selected fill color.

If you want to use a different type of fill, select Gradient or Texture from the drop-down menu. You can also select No Fill to make it transparent.

To change the shape outline:

  • On the Format tab, click the Shape Outline drop-down arrow. The Shape Outline menu will appear.

Screenshot of Word 2013

  • The shape will appear in the selected outline color.

From the drop-down menu, you can change the outline color , weight (thickness), and whether or not it is a dashed line.

Screenshot of Word 2013

To change shadow effects:

Adding a shadow to a shape can make it appear as though it is floating above the page, and it can help to add contrast between the shape and the background.

Screenshot of Word 2013

  • The shape will appear with the selected shadow.

To adjust the shadow color, size, distance and more, select Shadow Options from the drop-down menu. The Format Shape pane will appear on the right side of the Word window, allowing you to customize the shadow.

Screenshot of Word 2013

There are two kinds of effects you can apply to your shapes to give them a 3D appearance: 3-D Rotation and Bevel . 3-D Rotation gives the appearance that you are viewing an object from a different angle, and it can be applied to any shape. Bevel adds thickness and a rounded edge to shapes, but it doesn't work with every type of shape.

To add 3-D Rotation:

Screenshot of Word 2013

  • The shape will appear in the selected 3-D Rotation effect.

If you want, you can customize 3-D Rotation. Select 3-D Rotation Options... from the drop-down menu, and the Format Shape pane will appear on the right side of the Word window. From here, you can adjust the rotation values.

Screenshot of Word 2013

To add a bevel:

Screenshot of Word 2013

  • The shape will appear in the selected bevel effect.

If you want, you can customize the bevel effect. Select 3-D Options... from the drop-down menu. The Format Shape pane will appear on the right side of the Word window. From here, you can modify the width, height, and depth of a bevel. You can also change the shape's material to give it a metal, plastic, or translucent appearance, as well as choose the lighting type to change how the shape is illuminated.

Screenshot of Word 2013

  • Create a new Word document. If you want, you can use our practice document .
  • Insert a two or three shapes . If you're using the example, insert a Lightning Bolt shape on the cloud.
  • Select a shape and resize it. If you're using the example, resize the cloud so it appears larger.
  • Place one shape on top of the other, and try changing the order of the shapes. If you're using the example, try changing the order of the shapes so the Lightning Bolt is behind the Cloud .
  • Select a shape, and change it to a different shape . If you're using the example, try changing the Moon into a Sun .
  • Select a shape, and try changing the shape style , fill color , and outline .
  • Try various shadow effects .
  • Try various 3D effects .

previous

/en/word2013/text-boxes-and-wordart/content/

Basic Use of Shapes

Locked lesson.

  • Lesson resources Resources
  • Quick reference Reference

About this lesson

Exercise files.

Download this lesson’s related exercise files.

Quick reference

When to use.

Shapes are for more than decoration. They draw a reader’s eye to a specific point. For example, the red outline above is simply a rectangle shape placed for a useful purpose.

Instructions:

Note: When you add a shape, a new ribbon appears called the Shape Format ribbon.

Insert Ribbon, Shapes

  • Click Insert, Shapes: a gallery of available shapes appears on the screen
  • Click to drop, or Click and drag to control the size of the shape on your document.  

Move and Resize a Shape

Shape styles.

Notice the gallery of Shape Styles with ABC in the shape examples. That allows you to type words inside your shape.

You also can choose a specific “Shape Fill” color, even “No Fill” if you want a transparent box.

You can choose a color for the outline and even the thickness, or WEIGHT, of the outline:  EXAMPLE

And Shape Effects will give a new dimension to the look of the shape. Click and experiment!

Layout Options

  • The tiny symbol next to the shape is the “Layout Options” tool. This allows you to choose how the shape aligns with the text of your document.
  • Click through the options and observe what happens as each is selected.

There is no right or wrong answer when using Layout Options; it is simply up to you and your document design choices.

  • 00:04 This is a fun lesson about using shapes,
  • 00:07 which allows us to put art into our documents.
  • 00:10 On the screen, I'm going to draw a circle, square, two hearts, and
  • 00:14 a lightning bolt and then we'll go back and edit those.
  • 00:17 Go to the Insert ribbon and you'll see the button for Shapes.
  • 00:21 A gallery opens up and you can peruse those and choose anything you'd like.
  • 00:25 This isn't a process of click and drag, we simply select, for instance, the oval.
  • 00:31 Click it.
  • 00:32 And now notice my cursor has become a black crossbar.
  • 00:35 I simply click to drop it.
  • 00:37 I can click and drag, or I can just click and
  • 00:40 it'll drop a perfect circle on the screen.
  • 00:43 Now let's go get a square.
  • 00:44 Insert ribbon > Shapes.
  • 00:47 Click a Square and drop it.
  • 00:52 Let's go get two hearts.
  • 00:53 I'm going to get one heart and then copy paste it.
  • 00:56 Shapes > Heart.
  • 00:58 Now I can click and drag it this time.
  • 01:01 And then I'm going to copy, Ctrl+C, paste, Ctrl+V as in Victor.
  • 01:07 Now we're going to go get a lightning bolt, Insert > Shapes > Lightning Bolt.
  • 01:14 Activate that, come out here, click and drag to drop it.
  • 01:17 Notice when I try to move that and make it face left,
  • 01:20 it will not do it when I'm first inserting it.
  • 01:23 I'll have to do that on the edit.
  • 01:25 And let go.
  • 01:27 Let's change this square.
  • 01:30 We're going to make it transparent and use it as a border.
  • 01:32 So I first want to reshape it into a rectangle because I want to
  • 01:37 place it above and over the top of my heading.
  • 01:41 I'm coming up to the Shape Format ribbon, go to the Shape Fill color and
  • 01:47 we want to transparent, which means no fill color.
  • 01:52 Now we want to change the border to red and
  • 01:55 we want to make it one and a half points thick.
  • 01:59 So right back to the Shape Outline button.
  • 02:02 Notice down here it says, Weight and we can tell it one and a half points.
  • 02:06 And now we have a thicker border around that square.
  • 02:10 Let's go to the hearts.
  • 02:12 I'm going to change the color of both of these.
  • 02:14 So on the Shape Fill color, I want one to be a bright red.
  • 02:20 I'll click the second one, go up to Shape Fill and I'd like this one to be purple,.
  • 02:25 But I want to see what more fill colors will offer me.
  • 02:30 Now in here I can design my own purple.
  • 02:32 I can click and drag around this color gallery.
  • 02:36 I can click on Standard and choose a purple.
  • 02:39 Can make it 50% transparent.
  • 02:44 And then I can come to Custom, and
  • 02:47 I can still fine-tune the colors by using the red green blue RGB.
  • 02:52 You could also change that to HSL, hue saturation lumens.
  • 02:57 It depends on how technical you want to get.
  • 03:00 I'll click OK to that.
  • 03:03 Now notice I made that one 50% transparent, so
  • 03:06 we can kind of see the image of the other heart in the background.
  • 03:09 Let's work on this lightning bolt.
  • 03:11 First of all we need to color it yellow.
  • 03:13 Shape fill, yellow, but I'd like it to face left.
  • 03:18 On the Shape Format ribbon, over on the right, there's a button, Rotate Objects.
  • 03:23 I can rotate right 90 degrees, left 90, flip vertical, flip horizontal.
  • 03:30 There's even an easier way.
  • 03:32 Notice that the handles on the side of this are like pages in a book.
  • 03:37 I can literally click the left handle and
  • 03:40 fold the page to the right and flip it over.
  • 03:43 Now that's my preferred way to flip any shape on the screen.
  • 03:47 Well, this is an exercise document, so go ahead and play with those.
  • 03:50 It's actually really fun to get to know the shapes and the shape formatting.

Lesson notes are only available for subscribers.

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How to Insert Shapes in MS Word?

Everyday in business or in another field there are lots of information or documentation files that are required to store for future use. For anyone, it is very difficult to store that information for a long time. Earlier letters, office files, documents, projects, and information are stored in a form of a registrar, file, or by paperwork but finding it may be difficult for us. It takes a lot of time. To resolve this issue Microsoft brings software called MS Word.

Microsoft Word is a software tool that allows users to create documents like articles, letters, projects files very easily. It has various features like editing and formatting, graphics, designs, fonts styles, printing documents, etc.

shapes assignment in ms word

Features of MS Word

  • Various Page Designs, page numbers, border
  • 3D models, charts, and icons
  • Page Layout formats
  • Inserting Online pictures and video
  • Text color and many more.
  • Date and Time
  • Page Designs
  • Different text fonts

What are Shapes in MS Word?

Microsoft Word has a special feature called shapes in which users can insert many different types of shapes in the document. A shape highlights the important item of the document. It attracts the attention of the readers for a better understanding of the content of the document.

MS Word contains many different types of shapes such as boxes, rectangles, callouts, circles, arrows, lines, triangles, curves, equations shapes, and many more. Once the shape is added, you can modify it by changing features like color, style format, size, outline, etc.

So you should use different types of shapes in your document. The figure below shows the different types of shapes that are available in MS Word.

shapes assignment in ms word

Some examples of shapes are: 

shapes assignment in ms word

Steps to Add Shapes in MS Word

Step 1: On the navigation menu click on the insert option.

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 2: In the illustration section select the shapes option as shown in the figure:

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 3: A list of shapes will pop up on the screen where you can select different types of shapes.

There are total of 8 sections in shapes:

  • Basic Shapes
  • Block Arrows
  • Equation Shapes
  • Stars and Banners

Step 4: Now select a shape as per your need.

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 5: Next drag the cursor on your current page to draw the shape.

Step 6: Finally shape is added on the current page of the document as shown in the figure:

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 7: Now click on the drag button to set the size of the shape as shown in the figure:

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 8: On the navigation menu click on the format option to give color, layout, style to the shape.

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 9: Under the shape style section click on the drop-down arrow to open the style panel.

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 10: A theme style color panel will open where you can select different types of color styles for the shape as shown in the figure:

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 11: Select the color of your choice.

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 12: You can also choose a different color pattern from other theme fills options as shown in the figure:

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 13: You can also select a different color from the shape fill option.

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 14: Next click on the shape outline option to give an outline to the shape.

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 15: Select the color from the theme colors panel as shown in the figure:

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 16: Next click on the shape effects option.

shapes assignment in ms word

Step 17: Now select the option from the menu as per your requirement. 

shapes assignment in ms word

Finally, the shape is inserted in your document.

These are some of the steps to insert a shape in an MS Word document.

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Erin Wright Writing

Writing-Related Software Tutorials

How to Insert Text into Shapes in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac)

By Erin Wright

We recently looked at how to insert images into shapes in Microsoft Word . Today, we are going to insert text into shapes in Microsoft Word. First, we will insert text using the shape’s built-in text option. Then, we will use WordArt to place text over the shape, which will create the appearance of text inserted into the shape.

Table of Contents

How to Insert Text into Shapes (Built-In Method)

  • How to Use WordArt to Insert Text into Shapes

Watch all the steps shown here in real time!

Explore more than 250 writing-related software tutorials on my YouTube channel .

The images below are from Word for Microsoft 365. These steps also apply to Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac (a.k.a., Word for Mac), Word 2021, Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013 (PC only). These steps don’t apply to Word for the web.

Important Note: This tutorial assumes you have already created your shape. For information about creating shapes, please see “ How to Insert and Modify Shapes in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac) .”

  • Right-click (PC) or Control-click (Mac) the shape and then select Add Text from the shortcut menu.

Add Text option in the shape shortcut menu in Word 365

  • Your cursor will be placed in the center of the shape where you can type your text.

Text typed in shape in Word 365

How to Modify the Font

  • Select the Home tab.

Home tab in Word 365

  • Select the text and use the font options in the Font group to adjust the (A) font style, (B) size, and (C) color. You can also add (D) text effects and typography (e.g., drop shadows, reflections, ligatures).

Text in shape with font options in Word 365

How to Modify the Text Position

  • Select the Shape Format tab. (Note that this tab only appears when a shape or the text within a shape is selected.

Shape Format tab in Word 365

  • Select the dialog box launcher in the WordArt Styles group on a PC (see figure 6) or the Format Pane button on a Mac (see figure 7).

WordArt Styles dialog box launcher in Word 365

  • Select the Text Options tab in the Format Shape pane. (PC users should already be in this tab.)

Text Options tab in the Format Shape pane in Word 365

  • Select the Layout & Properties button.

Layout and Properties button in the Format Shape pane in Word 365

  • Use the alignment and margin options to adjust the text’s position in the shape. (Note that these position changes are limited. Use the WordArt method shown below for additional placement control.)

Text alignment and margin options in the Format Shape pane in Word 365

  • Select the X to close the Format Shape pane.

Closing X in the Format Shape pane in Word 365

Pro Tip: Using this method, you can insert text and an image into the same shape. In addition, the order of insertion doesn’t matter; the text will always appear on the top.

 How to Use WordArt to Insert Text into Shapes

If you are going to insert an image into the shape , I recommend doing so before starting this process.

  • Select the Insert tab.

Insert tab in Word 365

  • Select WordArt in the Text group.

WordArt button in Word 365

  • Select a style from the drop-down menu. (This style can be modified later.)

WordArt menu in Word 365

A WordArt text box will appear.

WordArt text box in Word 365

  • Type your text into the text box, drag the text box over the shape, and then use the resizing handles to place it over the shape in the desired position.

WordArt with resizing handles positioned over shape in Word 365

Pro Tip: Use the Rotation handle at the top of the text box to rotate the text as desired.

WordArt rotation handle in Word 365

  • Select the Home tab (see figure 3).
  • Select the text and use the font options in the Font group to adjust the font style, size, and color. You can also add text effects and typography (see figure 4).

How to Group the Text and Shape

  • Select the WordArt text box and then press and hold the Shift key as you select the shape. Now the text box and the shape should both be selected.

WordArt and Shape selected in Word 365

  • Right-click (PC) or Control-click (Mac) the text box or shape, and then select Group from the shortcut menu.

Group option in the shape shortcut menu in Word 365

  • Select Group from the submenu. (If you need to separate the text and shape later, select Ungroup .)

Group submenu in the shape shortcut menu in Word 365

Your shape and text can now be moved throughout your document as one object.

Related Resources

How to Insert and Modify Images in Microsoft Word

How to Save Shapes and Objects as Images in PowerPoint

How to Change the Font, Font Size, and Font Color in Microsoft Word

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How-To Geek

How to add and format text in a shape in microsoft word.

Microsoft Word makes it easy to add geometric shapes (and a whole lot more) to your document.

Quick Links

Add a text box.

Microsoft Word makes it easy to add geometric shapes (and a whole lot more ) to your document. You can also add text into these shapes, which is handy when you're creating flowcharts, network diagrams, mind maps, and so on. This being Word, there are plenty of options for doing this, so let's take a look.

First, you'll need to insert a shape by going to Insert > Shapes. We're going to use a nice rounded rectangle, which by default will be filled in with blue.

Right-click anywhere in your shape and click the "Add Text" command.

This places an insertion point in the shape where you can type your text. Once you've added whatever you want to write, the "Format" tab has tools you can use to give your text a little pop with things like text styles and shading.

You can also select the text and use the standard Font, Paragraph and Styles tools on the Home tab to format your text, just as if it were a normal part of the document. When you right click your text, you'll find the usual quick options as well.

Related: How to Position Images and Other Objects in Microsoft Word

If you'd like a little more control over the placement and boundaries of your text, you can add a text box inside your shape instead. When you insert a new image or select an existing image, Word automatically switches you to the "Format" tab. You'll see two ways here to insert a text box, both of which add a text box in the same way.

Select one of the options and move the cursor over your image. A yellow "+" mark will replace your pointer. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the "+" mark to create a text box. When the box looks about right, release the left click (don't worry if the text box isn't exactly the right size or location, you can change it afterward), and your text box will be created.

You can use the handles (the little squares) around the text box to resize it or select the whole text box to move it around within your shape. Add your text and format it in whatever way you want.

There are also text boxes with preset formatting that you can add by selecting your shape and then clicking Insert > Text Box. We've only scratched the surface of what you can do with text boxes here, so if you want to know more check out our guide to text boxes and all the things you can do with them.

Related: How to Create and Format a Text Box in Microsoft Word

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How to add or edit shapes in Microsoft Word and Excel

Microsoft Word shapes

When creating a document in Microsoft Word , or a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel , users can add many shapes to highlight important items. Bringing attention to those items helps readers better understand the content of the document or spreadsheet. After adding a shape, it can be modified by changing features, like size, color, and fill.

To add and edit a shape in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel, select the link below for help.

  • Add shapes in Microsoft Word.
  • Add shapes in Microsoft Excel.
  • Edit shapes in Microsoft Word and Excel.

Add shapes in Microsoft Word

Select the version of Microsoft Word you're using below and follow the steps to learn how to add a shape to a document.

  • Microsoft Word Online.
  • Microsoft Word desktop application.

Microsoft Word Online

  • In Microsoft Word Online, click the Insert tab at the top of the window.
  • On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click the Drawings option.

Microsoft Word Online - Drawings option on Insert tab

  • In the Drawings (Preview) window, click the Shapes option, and select the type of shape you want to add or draw from the drop-down menu .

Microsoft Word Online - add a shape in Drawing window

  • After selecting the desired type of shape, draw the shape in the Drawing window, then click the Save and Close button to add the shape to your Word Online document.

Microsoft Word desktop application

  • In Microsoft Word, click the Insert tab at the top of the program window.
  • On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click the Shapes option.

Microsoft Word - Shapes option on Insert tab

  • Select the type of shape you want to add or draw from the drop-down menu .

Microsoft Word - Selection of shapes to add

Add shapes in Microsoft Excel

The following steps help you add a shape to a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel Online or the desktop application.

  • In Microsoft Excel, click the Insert tab at the top of the program window.
  • On the Insert tab, click the Illustrations option, then click the Shapes option.

Microsoft Excel - Shapes option on Insert tab

Edit shapes in Microsoft Word and Excel

  • Click the shape to select it.
  • Right-click the shape and select Format Shape in the pop-up menu .

Format Shape in Microsoft Word and Excel

  • The Format Shape section opens on the right side of the program window. You can change the shape's fill, select the type and fill color (or no fill), and the size, color, and shape's lines. You can also add shadow, glow, reflection, and other effects.

Format Shape section in Microsoft Word and Excel

Related information

  • How to add WordArt in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
  • How to add or remove a text box in Microsoft Word.
  • How to insert an image in a text file or document.
  • How to insert a picture or clip art in an Excel file.
  • How to track changes in Microsoft Word and Excel.
  • Microsoft Word help and support.
  • Microsoft Excel help and support.

Easily organize shapes in Word

Gridlines in Word 2016

To turn on or turn off Gridlines in Word, do the following:

On the Page Layout tab, in the Arrange group, in the Align dropdown list, check the View Gridlines checkbox:

View Gridlines in Word 2016

To disable gridlines, uncheck View Gridlines .

You can also change Grid Settings :

   1.   On the Page Layout tab, in the Arrange group, in the Align dropdown list, click Grid Settings... :

Grid Settings in Word 2016

   2.   On the Grid and Guides dialog box:

Grid and Guides dialog box in Word 2016

  • Choose the spacing value that you want in the Horizontal spacing field to specify horizontal spacing.
  • Choose the spacing value that you want in the Vertical spacing field to specify vertical spacing.
  • Uncheck the Use margins checkbox to extend the drawing grid to the edge of the document.
  • Choose the appropriate margins, if you want, in the Horizontal origin and Vertical origin fields.
  • Select the Display gridlines on screen checkbox to display only some gridlines.
  • Select the number of gridlines that you want to display in the Vertical every or Horizontal every fields.

See also this tip in French: Comment organiser facilement des formes dans Word .

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Snap an object to the Grid or to a Shape

Snap an object to the Grid or to a Shape

Using the Organizational Chart Tool

Using the Organizational Chart Tool

A perfect text alignment using tabs

A perfect text alignment using tabs

shapes assignment in ms word

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Aligning Shapes in Word

Report abuse, replies (5) .

marysully

Draw first square shape, select shape, hold down ctrl key and hover mouse at shape border until you see a small black cross. Then drag shape to create another identical shape. Use this method to  copy shape across page.

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shapes assignment in ms word

Group shapes, pictures, or other objects in Word

You can group shapes, pictures, or other objects. Grouping lets you rotate, flip, move, or resize multiple shapes or objects as though they're a single shape or object.

Group shapes, pictures, or other objects

Press and hold CTRL and select shapes, pictures, or other objects to group.

The Wrap Text option for each object must be other than In line with Text . For more info, see Wrap Text .

Do one of the following:

The Group icon.

Go to Shape Format or Drawing Tools Format > Group > Group .

Group button under Picture Format

To still work with an individual item in the group, select the group, and then select the item.

The Group button is enabled for two or more selected objects.

Press and hold command while selecting the shapes, pictures, or other objects to group.

shapes assignment in ms word

To work with an individual item in the group, select the group, and then select the item.

If the Group button is unavailable, verify that you have more than one object selected.

For more info selecting shapes or pictures, see Select a shape or other object in Word .

SVG icons must converted to shapes before grouping. For more info, see Convert an SVG image to an Office shape .

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IMAGES

  1. How to Insert Shapes in MS Word?

    shapes assignment in ms word

  2. How to draw GEOMETRIC SHAPES in MS WORD

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  3. MS Word Tutorial: How to Insert Shapes with Mockup Design in Microsoft Word 2017 Part -1

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  4. Project Based Learning

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  5. MS Word 2013-Shapes

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  6. microsoft word shapes

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VIDEO

  1. Text Allignment in MS Word: A Step-by-Step Guide @ExcelMarathon

  2. Inserting Shapes in MS Word

  3. Shapes in Ms Word part 2

  4. Inserting Shapes in MS Word Easy Learning with Zahi

  5. Drawing in MS Word Using Shapes

  6. #Shapes in Ms word #careermantravlogs

COMMENTS

  1. Add shapes

    To add a shape: On the Insert tab, select Shapes. Select a shape from the gallery, and then click and drag to draw the shape. After you add one or more shapes, you can add text, bullets, and numbering to them, and you can change their fill, outline, and other effects on the Shape Format or Format tab. Tip: You can add individual shapes to a ...

  2. How to Insert and Modify Shapes in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac)

    Insert tab. Select Shapes in the Illustrations group. Figure 2. Shapes button. Select a shape from the drop-down menu. Figure 3. Shapes menu. Your cursor will become a pointer with two crossed lines. Click and hold the pointer as you drag the shape onto the page.

  3. How to Add and Edit Shapes in Microsoft Word

    Step 1: Click the original shape in the Word document to view the Shape Format tab on the Word Ribbon. Step 2: In the Shape Format tab, click the Edit Shape option. Step 3: Click Edit Points. This ...

  4. MS Word Shape Tool Tutorial

    In this comprehensive MS Word Shape Tool tutorial, learn how to effortlessly enhance your documents with captivating visuals. Discover the art of inserting, ...

  5. Word 2016: Shapes

    To insert a shape: Select the Insert tab, then click the Shapes command. A drop-down menu of shapes will appear. Select the desired shape. Click and drag in the desired location to add the shape to your document. If you want, you can enter text in a shape. When the shape appears in your document, you can begin typing.

  6. Word 2010: Working with Shapes

    Click the Shape Effects command. A drop-down menu will appear. Hover your mouse over Shadow. You will see a list of shadow presets. Move your mouse over the menu options to see a live preview of the shadow effect in your document. Choosing a shadow type. Click the desired shadow effect to add it to your shape.

  7. How to add and edit pictures and shapes in Microsoft Word

    To add a shape to your Word document, go to the Insert tab in the ribbon menu, and click or tap Shapes. A new menu with a long list of options opens. You can choose from a large variety of shapes, including lines, rectangles, arrows, stars, banners, callouts, and equation shapes. Look through the options and select a shape.

  8. 14-Using Shapes

    Word - ShapesIntroductionYou can add a variety of shapes to your document, including arrows, callouts, squares, stars, and flowchart shapes. Want to set your...

  9. How to Insert and Format Shapes in Microsoft Word

    In this video, you will learn how to insert and format shapes in Microsoft Word. This is part of a complete beginners guide on how to use Microsoft word.Subs...

  10. Word 2013: Shapes

    To insert a shape: Select the Insert tab, then click the Shapes command. A drop-down menu of shapes will appear. Select the desired shape. Selecting a shape. Click, hold, and drag in the desired location to add the shape to your document. Inserting a new shape. If you want, you can enter text in a shape. When the shape appears in your document ...

  11. How to Insert Images into Shapes in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac)

    How to Modify an Image's Size and Position within a Shape. Right-click (PC) or Control-click (Mac) the shape with the image, and then select Format Picture or Format Shape from the shortcut menu. Figure 17. Format Picture option. Select the Picture button in the Format Picture or Format Shape pane. Figure 18.

  12. Basic Use of Shapes

    Download the 'before' and 'after' Word documents from the video tutorial and try the lesson yourself. Basic Use of Shapes .docx. 60 KB Basic Use of Shapes - Solution.docx. 68.4 KB. Screenshots. Learn to move and color shapes to draw attention to an area.

  13. Basic Use of Shapes

    Download this lesson's related exercise files. The Basic Use of Shapes - Exercise.docx. 34.8 KB The Basic Use of Shapes - Exercise Solution.docx. 43.4 KB. Screenshots. Learn to move and color shapes to draw attention to an area.

  14. PDF Drawing shapes in Word for Word 2007

    E How to label shapes. Left click on Insert then Text Box. Different text box styles will appear. Left click on Simple Text Box. A text box will appear as shown on the next page. Enter the name you want. Use Shape Outline and Shape Fill to change the appearance of the text box. (The No Outline and No Fill options will leave just the shape name ...

  15. How to Insert Shapes in MS Word?

    Steps to Add Shapes in MS Word. Step 1: On the navigation menu click on the insert option. Step 2: In the illustration section select the shapes option as shown in the figure: Step 3: A list of shapes will pop up on the screen where you can select different types of shapes. There are total of 8 sections in shapes: Lines. Rectangles. Basic Shapes.

  16. How to Insert Text into Shapes in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac)

    How to Insert Text into Shapes (Built-In Method) Right-click (PC) or Control-click (Mac) the shape and then select Add Text from the shortcut menu. Figure 1. Add Text option. Your cursor will be placed in the center of the shape where you can type your text. Figure 2.

  17. How to Add and Format Text in a Shape in Microsoft Word

    Right-click anywhere in your shape and click the "Add Text" command. This places an insertion point in the shape where you can type your text. Once you've added whatever you want to write, the "Format" tab has tools you can use to give your text a little pop with things like text styles and shading. You can also select the text and use the ...

  18. How to add or edit shapes in Microsoft Word and Excel

    Microsoft Word Online. In Microsoft Word Online, click the Insert tab at the top of the window.; On the Insert tab, in the Illustrations group, click the Drawings option.; In the Drawings (Preview) window, click the Shapes option, and select the type of shape you want to add or draw from the drop-down menu.; After selecting the desired type of shape, draw the shape in the Drawing window, then ...

  19. MS Word Tutorial: How to Insert Shapes with Mockup Design in Microsoft

    MS Word Tutorial: How to Insert Shapes with Mockup Design in Microsoft Word 2017 Part -1?In this video tutorial we'll learn how to use Shapes tools with Mock...

  20. Easily organize shapes in Word

    1. On the Page Layout tab, in the Arrange group, in the Align dropdown list, click Grid Settings... 2. On the Grid and Guides dialog box: In the Grid settings section: Choose the spacing value that you want in the Horizontal spacing field to specify horizontal spacing. Choose the spacing value that you want in the Vertical spacing field to ...

  21. How to Draw and Use Freeform Shapes in Microsoft Word

    To draw using the Scribble tool, click Insert > Shapes > Scribble. Click, hold, and drag the mouse to draw the shape. If you bring the cursor back to your point of origin, Word closes and fills the shape. In this case, let's draw a cloud. Now the drawing can be edited by using the tools in the Shape Format ribbon.

  22. HOW CAN I INSERT SHAPES IN WORD? WHERE HAS THIS GONE?

    File menu > Options command > Customize ribbon option. Make sure the 'Insert' group is present (should be) Click on the "+" to expand it. Make sure the illustrations group is present. If it is not, click on the Reset and select "Reset only selected Ribbon Tab" option.

  23. Aligning Shapes in Word

    Draw first square shape, select shape, hold down ctrl key and hover mouse at shape border until you see a small black cross. Then drag shape to create another identical shape. Use this method to copy shape across page. SO. SolarConstant. Replied on September 5, 2016. Report abuse.

  24. Group shapes, pictures, or other objects in Word

    Press and hold CTRL and select shapes, pictures, or other objects to group. The Wrap Text option for each object must be other than In line with Text. For more info, see Wrap Text. Do one of the following: Go to Picture Format or Picture Tools Format > Group > Group. Go to Shape Format or Drawing Tools Format > Group > Group.

  25. How to Draw Shapes in Microsoft Word 2016 Tutorial

    Welcome to our Microsoft Word 2016 Tutorial on using the Shapes Tool to create and customize shapes. Whether you're an Aussie student, professional, or anyon...