Powerpoint text alignment problem

Question

The text in the text box below is left aligned. For some reason, when there isn't much text in the box, it decides that it's in my best interests to center the text instead. How can I force it to left align the text under all circumstances. I've figured out a dirty kludge by adding more text in the same colour as the background colour, but that seems a ridiculous thing to have to do.

Answer 1

In Mac PowerPoint this is what Steve is referring to:

Answer 2

Thanks for the link to the file.

I downloaded it to test and found that the shape's text formatting, alignment, is set to Middle Centered.

When I changed it to just Middle, the text behaved as you want it to.

I'm on Windows, but I expect it'll be similar for Mac. Open the formatting pane and look for this:

Answer 3

Well, for one thing, that doesn't appear to be a Text Box. It more likely is a Placeholder or a Rectangle Shape, but I can't tell much from such a restricted screen shot.

By default, text added to any Shape (other than those created with the actual Text Box tool) is centered both Horizontally & Vertically. To have it be otherwise the Horizontal alignment needs to be changed in the Paragraph group on the Home tab of the Ribbon. You did not mention having done that. (Vertical alignment is selected by using the Align Text tool in that same group or in the Format Shape task pane.)

If that doesn't help resolve the issue please provide as much descriptive detail as possible, starting with how you created this box. Be sure to include the specific Version Numbers for both macOS & your Office software. A screen shot of the entire document window with the Home tab displayed & the box selected may prove useful as well.

Answer 4

Try selecting the shape and opening the Format pane

In Text Options > TextBox make sure that Vertical Alignment is NOT set to anything that says Centered. (e.g. Top Centered or Middle Centered)

Answer 5

Your method works but is completely unnecessary.

Seems a shame that left-align doesn't mean left-align in all circumstances wehn text is within a shape,

That simply is not the case. As I wrote, centered horizontally merely is the default for text inserted into shapes. The alignment can be whatever you want.

If you want the text aligned differently just select the shape then click the preferred alignment tool on the Home tab of the Ribbon. Or use the appropriate keyboard shortcut:

• Left - Command+L
• Right - Command+R
• Center - Command+E

Here are 3 copies of the same Rectangle Shape;