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Word refuses to insert Section Breaks

Anonymous
2021-11-19T20:02:43+00:00

Hi

I'm using Microsoft Word Professional 2019.

I am trying to insert Section Breaks Next Page in a document, so that I can create different headers with 1, 2, 3... in some and i, ii, iii... in others. (Essentially, this: https://askalibrarian.csuohio.edu/faq/43427 -- has worked for me in the past on other docs.)

But Word is simply refusing to put in Section Breaks Next Page. I'm on page 4, I select Section Break Next Page (NOT Continuous):

And it puts in a Section Break Continuous:

(Or sometimes randomly it'll put in a Page Break instead. I can't see any pattern to what it adds, but it's not what I tell it to.)

Plus, on page 3 up above this, I had been able to successfully put in a Section Break Next Page, and now when this one on page 4 goes in as Continuous, then the one on page 3 has also changed from Next Page back to Continuous.

I am copyediting another person's dissertation, so I don't know what he did to the page numbers before I got it. He had the page numbers in the footer, incorrectly, so I just Removed his page #s entirely and tried to start from scratch, but I think there is some weird setting from his editing that is not letting me do what I want.

Any ideas on how to fix? This is driving me crazy! Thank you very much.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For education | Windows

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Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.1K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2021-11-19T20:29:06+00:00

I don't know why that is happening. However, you can change the type of break after insertion by putting the selection after the break and then going to the Layout tab of the Page Setup dialog and select the type of break required from the Section start dropdown

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  1. Stefan Blom 342K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2021-11-21T19:14:06+00:00

    For what it is worth, I have seen this happening too. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen.

    As Doug wrote, you can change the type of section after the break has been inserted.

    In addition, note that Word may force an Odd Page section break if you are restarting the page numbering in the new section. The purpose is to ensure that right-hand pages get odd page numbers.

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