This is a quick tutorial on how to use tables in Microsoft Word. Tables can be very useful in legal documents, not only for organizing data but also for formatting captions.

1. Fun with
TABLES!
Using Tables in
Microsoft Word 2010
By Tiffany Johnson

2. So What’s a “Table”?
• Basically just a grid
– columns (vertical)
– rows (horizontal)
– individual cells (boxes)
• Each cell can hold:
– Text
– Pictures
– Embedded math
formulas
– Pretty much anything

3. To Insert (Create) a Table
• Click the “Insert” tab
• Find the “Table” icon on the left side
STEP
1

4. To Insert (Create) a Table
• Click the down-arrow
under “Table”
• Drag over the grid to
select the dimensions of
your table (number of
rows and columns)
• Then click to insert the
table
STEP 2

5. To Insert (Create) a Table
• And VOILA! Your table appears in the word document!
• Notice that Word automatically switches over to the
“Table Tools” tab (everything you need to format tables)
STEP
3

6. To Delete Rows/Columns
• Click the “Layout” tab under
“Table Tools”
• Click the down-arrow under
“Delete”
• This will delete whatever
row or column is currently
selected (or whatever row
or column was last clicked)

7. To Insert Rows/Columns
• To add new rows or
columns, click:
– Insert Above
– Insert Below
– Insert Left
– Insert Right
• This will add a new
row/column next to
whatever row or column
was last clicked)

8. Auto-fit to Window
• This tool stretches a table across the page from the
left margin to the right margin…
STEP1

9. Auto-fit to Window
So we go from this

 To this 
STEP 2

10. Table Alignment
• On the far left side,
click “Properties”
• The “Table
Properties” window
will appear…
STEP1
This refers to the position of the entire table
in relation to the page.

11. Table Alignment
• When the “Table
Properties” window
pops up…
• Click your preferred
alignment
STEP 2

12. Table Alignment Voila!

13. Text Alignment
Step1
This refers to the position of the text
within the individual cells.
Find the “Alignment” group
under the “Layout” tab…

14. Text Alignment
Step 2
• Within the table,
select the cell(s) you
want to format
• Then, up in the
“Layout” tab, click
your preferred text
alignment

15. Text Alignment
Voila!

16. Column Width & Row Height
• Use your mouse to
hover over the table
border that you
want to adjust
• The pointer cursor
will change into a
re-size cursor
Step1

17. Column Width & Row Height
• Once you have the
re-size cursor, just
click and drag to
move the border
• (Same process for
rows or columns)
Step 2

18. Merge Cells
• Click and drag to
select the cells that
you want to merge
• Find the “Merge”
group on the
“Layout” tab
Step1
Use this tool to combine
multiple cells

19. Merge Cells
Step 2
• Click “Merge Cells”
to combine
selected cells

20. Split Cells
Step 1,2,3
Use this tool to divide
cells into even more cells
• Select cells to divide
• Click “Split Cells”
• Choose how many new
rows/columns you want

21. Step 4
• Click “OK”
• Voila!
Split cells!
Split Cells

22. Resources
• Office.com Online Course:
“Create and Format Basic Tables”
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/tables-i-create-and-format-basic-tables-
RZ001200716.aspx
• Office.com Article:
“Insert of Create a Table”
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/insert-or-create-a-table-HA010034300.aspx
• YouTube (from Techucomp.com):
“Word 2010 Tutorial: Creating Tables”
(Lesson 16.2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YkoY-Xa_T4

23. More Resources
• Office.com Article:
“Word 2010 QuickSteps: Chapter 6 Using Tables”
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/word-2010-quicksteps-
chapter-6-using-tables-HA102264017.aspx
• AddictiveTips.com:
“Word 2010: Insert Tables & Formulas”
http://www.addictivetips.com/microsoft-office/word-2010-insert-tables-formulas/
• Office.com Article:
“Resize a Table Column or Row”
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/resize-a-table-column-or-row-
HA102653846.aspx