distributed text

Question

I am working on a Mac10.7.5 using Word 14.3.9.

I am looking for a way to distribute text so that some aligns left and some aligns right. For instance, a quotation may be centred followed by the author's name hard against the right-hand margin on the same line; or a numbered equation may be placed left, with its number hard right.

I have tried control + shift + J to no effect. Apparently there is a symbol of two arrows pointing in opposite directions over a few lines, but I can't find it. Any ideas, please?

Answer 1

You can align a single line this way without using tabs or tables, by using the Justified alignment for a paragraph and ending the line with a hard line feed (shift-enter) at the end. But you have to ensure that there is only one space in the line (if you want left-right "distribution") and work a little harder if you want center-right "distribution.

Let's suppose you want to put "distributed text" at the left and "Word 14.3.9" at the right. Then

a. start a new paragraph and format it as justified

b. type "distributed text" but insert a non-breaking space (cmd-shift-space) instead of the space between "distributed" and "text".

c. type a space

d. type "Word 14.3.9", but with a non-breaking space between "Word" and "14"

e. press shift-enter to insert a hard line feed.

If instead you want the "distributed text" centred and "Word 14.3.9" at the right, do the above, but then to the left of "distributed"

e. insert an n-space (e.g. using Insert->Insert Symbol->Advanced Symbol...->Special characters) followed by an ordinary space.

Answer 2

Tab Stops most definitely do stay in place... That's their purpose for being :-)

If you change formatting, margins, or other document parameters it's the text flow that doesn't "remain in place", not the positioning of the Tab Stops. It only stands to reason that the Tab Stops [as well as other aspects of the document] will have to be adjusted accordingly.

Tip: To me it usually makes sense to simply press the Tab key as necessary while typing a document. After the Editing phase I adjust Tab Stops as necessary during the Formatting phase... it just doesn't make any sense to me to take the time to position anything precisely knowing that other changes will make you have to do it again :-)

Incorporating Tab Stops in Styles also makes adjusting easier as well as more consistent.

Answer 3

Thank you for these suggestions. I have been using tab stops but they do not fill me with confidence that they will remain in place if formatting or page size is changed; tables are a possibility but seem fiddly for what I want, and may cause problems with spacing. I will give them a try.

Answer 4

I agree with Bob

If this is going to be a Continuous List I would prefer using a 3 cell wide by ever how many rows. Based on number of names.

You could Format the first column justified left, the second justified center, the last justified right.

Here is a Sample. (BTW sample text only no guarantees of accuracy.)

If the list is going to be constantly added to you would be much better off using an Excel Spreadsheet.

Answer 5

Alignment is a Paragraph Formatting attribute which cannot be mixed in a single paragraph... The entire paragraph [i.e., all lines of a paragraph] must be either Left, or Right, or Center or Justified.

The effect you're looking for can be imposed in at least 2 ways:

• By using a Table, which allows for different Alignment in each cell, or
• By using the appropriate types of Tab Stops: Set or clear a **tab** stop

Which may work better in any given situation depends on a number of variables, including the preferred end result.