How To Add Columns in Google Docs (Step-by-Step Guide)

Google Docs is a powerful tool for creating and editing documents, but organizing information side-by-side can sometimes be a challenge. While Google Docs doesn’t offer a built-in feature for side-by-side text columns like those found in newspapers, you can achieve a similar effect using the “Columns” function. 

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of adding columns to your Google Docs, helping you create more visually appealing and organized documents.

Steps To Add Columns in Google Docs

Following are the steps to To Add Columns in Google Docs.

Step 1: Select the Text

Before you can format your text into columns, you need to select the text you want to organize.

Open your Google Doc: Navigate to the document where you want to add columns.

Identify the text: Locate the section of text you want to format into columns.

Highlight the text: Click and drag your cursor over the text to select it. You can select a single paragraph, multiple paragraphs, or even the entire document.

Step 2: Access the Columns Menu

Once you’ve selected the text, the next step is to access the “Columns” menu.

Navigate to the top menu bar: At the top of your Google Docs window, you’ll see a series of menu options.

Click on “Format”: This will open a dropdown menu with various formatting options.

Hover over “Columns”: In the “Format” dropdown menu, move your cursor over the “Columns” option. This will reveal a submenu with different column layout options.

Step 3: Choose the Number of Columns

Google Docs allows you to choose from several predefined column layouts.

Select the number of columns:

In the “Columns” submenu, you’ll see options for 1, 2, or 3 columns. Click on the number of columns you want to apply to your selected text.

• 1 column: This will return your text to a single-column format.
• 2 columns: This will split your text into two columns.
• 3 columns: This will split your text into three columns.

Step 4: Fine-tune the Formatting (Optional)

If you want more control over the layout of your columns, you can access additional formatting options.

Choose “More options”: At the bottom of the “Columns” submenu, click on “More options.” This will open a new window with advanced column settings.

Adjust the number of columns: If you change your mind about the number of columns, you can adjust it here.

Set the spacing: Use the “Spacing” option to control the gap between the columns. You can increase or decrease the space depending on your preference.

Enable line balancing: The “Line balancing” option affects how text is distributed between columns. When enabled, it ensures that the text is evenly distributed, which can improve the overall appearance of your document.

Step 5: Apply the Formatting

Once you’ve configured your column settings, it’s time to apply them to your text.

Click “Apply”: If you’re using the “More options” window, click the “Apply” button to apply your settings. If you selected a predefined number of columns in Step 3, the formatting will be applied automatically.

View your formatted text: Your selected text will now be displayed in the specified number of columns. You can continue editing your document as usual, and the column formatting will remain intact.

Bonus Tip: Using Section Breaks for Different Column Layouts

If you want to create separate sections with different column layouts within the same document, you can use section breaks.

Insert a section break: Place your cursor at the point in your document where you want to start a new section with a different column layout. Go to the “Insert” menu, hover over “Break,” and select “Section break (continuous).”

Apply column formatting: After inserting the section break, select the text in the new section and follow the steps above to apply the desired column formatting.

Repeat as needed: You can insert multiple section breaks and apply different column layouts to each section, allowing for greater flexibility in your document design.

Also Read How to Print Google Docs.

Conclusion

Adding columns to your Google Docs can significantly enhance the organization and visual appeal of your documents. Whether you’re creating a newsletter, a report, or any other type of document, the ability to format text into columns gives you greater control over the layout and presentation of your content. 

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily add and customize columns in Google Docs, transforming your documents from basic to brilliant in just a few clicks.