How to Show Rulers in Word

how to show rulers in word
by David Harris // October 3  

If you’re a student writing a paper, a professional drafting a report, or someone making personalized greeting cards, Microsoft Word offers features that simplify your tasks. One such handy feature is the ruler. The ruler helps you precisely align text, graphics, tables, and other elements. Knowing how to show rulers in Word can save you time and make document formatting much smoother. This guide shows just that, helping you display rulers while explaining their importance.

Importance of Rulers in Microsoft Word

The rulers in Word help you get a visual representation of where your content will appear on the page. Specifically, rulers:

  • Help in aligning text and graphics
  • Allow precise positioning of elements
  • Make margin adjustments easier
  • Assist in creating professional-looking documents

Whether you are working on a simple essay or a complex report, knowing how to utilize rulers will improve the quality and look of your documents.

How to Show Rulers in Word: Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Open Your Document

The first step in this guide on how to show rulers in Word is to open the document where you intend to use this feature. You can start a new document or open one you already have.

Step 2: Navigate to the ‘View’ Tab

Once your document is open, move your cursor to the top of the screen, where you will see several tabs such as Home, Insert, and Design. Click on the ‘View’ tab to access the various viewing options available in Word.

Step 3: Check the ‘Ruler’ Option

In the View tab, look for a section labeled “Show” or “Show/Hide” (depending on your version of Word). In this section, you will find a checkbox labeled ‘Ruler.’ Simply check this box to display the rulers in your document.

Step 4: Verify the Rulers are Displayed

After checking the ‘Ruler’ option, you should immediately see two rulers appear: one at the top of your document (horizontal ruler) and one along the left side (vertical ruler). If you do not see these rulers, uncheck and recheck the ‘Ruler’ option.

Customizing the Rulers

Adjusting Units of Measurement

In some cases, you might want to change the unit of measurement displayed on the rulers. Word allows you to customize units of measurement to suit your needs. For example, you can switch between inches, centimeters, millimeters, points, or picas.

  1. Head to the ‘File’ tab and select ‘Options.’
  2. In the Word Options dialog box, select ‘Advanced.’
  3. Scroll down to the ‘Display’ section.
  4. Find the ‘Show measurements in units of’ dropdown menu and select your desired unit.
  5. Click ‘OK’ to apply the changes.

Showing Only the Horizontal or Vertical Ruler

While displaying both rulers can be helpful, there might be cases where you only need one. Unfortunately, Microsoft Word doesn’t provide an easy way to toggle the horizontal and vertical rulers individually. In most versions, both rulers will appear together.

Utilizing the Rulers for Precise Formatting

Aligning Text

You can use rulers to position your text precisely within the margins of your document. By dragging the indentation markers on the horizontal ruler, you can control the first line indent, hanging indent, and left and right margins of your text.

Setting Tabs

Tabs allow you to align text in specific positions along the ruler. You can set tab stops by clicking on the horizontal ruler to organize your text efficiently. To delete a tab stop, simply drag it off the ruler.

Working with Tables and Graphics

Rulers can also resize and position tables, images, and other graphical elements within your document. You can ensure everything is perfectly aligned by clicking and dragging the edges of elements with the rulers as a guide.

Hiding the Rulers

While these rulers can be extremely useful, there might be times when you want to hide them to get a clearer view of your document.

  1. Navigate back to the ‘View’ tab.
  2. Uncheck the ‘Ruler’ option in the “Show” section.

This action will hide the horizontal and vertical rulers from your workspace, giving you more screen space to focus on your content.

Troubleshooting: Common Issues and Solutions

Rulers Not Showing After Checking the Box

If you have followed all the steps and the rulers still do not appear, try closing and reopening Microsoft Word. Sometimes, you might find that restarting the app can fix this problem.

Can’t Find the ‘Ruler’ Option

For older versions of Microsoft Word, you’ll find the ‘Ruler’ option in a different menu. For example, in Word 2003, you can find it under ‘View’> ‘Ruler.’

Vertical Ruler Not Appearing

In some versions of Word, like Word 2007 or 2010, the vertical ruler might be disabled by default. To enable it:

  1. Go to ‘File’ and choose ‘Options.’
  2. In the Word Options dialog box, select ‘Advanced.’
  3. Scroll down to the ‘Display’ section and check ‘Show vertical ruler in Print Layout view.’
  4. Click ‘OK’ to apply the changes.

Tips for Advanced Users

Using the Gridlines

For more precise alignment, you may also want to enable gridlines. In the ‘View’ tab, check the ‘Gridlines’ option. This action will overlay a grid on your document, making it easier to align objects precisely.

Creating Custom Rulers

If the default rulers do not meet your needs, you can create custom rulers by adjusting the margins and indents for each document section. Head to the ‘Layout’ tab, and in the ‘Page Setup’ group, you can specify custom margins by selecting ‘Margins’> ‘Custom Margins.’

Layering Elements

For complex documents with multiple layers of text and graphics, using the rulers in combination with the ‘Position’ and ‘Wrap Text’ options for images can provide better control. When selecting an image or object, these features are available under the ‘Format’ tab.

Frequently Asked Questions Related to How To Show Rulers In Word

Q. How can I see the ruler in Microsoft Word?
A. To show the ruler, go to the “View” tab at the top of Word. Then, check the box that says “Ruler.”

Q. What if I don’t see the “View” tab?
A. Make sure you’re using the Ribbon interface in Word. If you still can’t find it, your version might be different. Look for similar options in your menu.

Q. Can I turn on the ruler in Word for Mac?
A. Yes! Click on the “View” menu at the top, then select “Ruler” from the dropdown list.

Q. Is there a shortcut to show the ruler?
A. Unfortunately, there isn’t a specific keyboard shortcut to turn on the ruler, but using the “View” tab is quick and easy.

Q. Why can’t I see the ruler even after enabling it?
A. If the ruler still doesn’t appear, ensure your document is in the “Print Layout” view. You can change this in the “View” tab as well.

Q. Can I show the ruler in a new document?
A. Yes! You can turn on the ruler in any new or existing document by following the same steps in the “View” tab.

Q. Will my changes to the ruler show up when I print?
A. No, the ruler is just for your reference on the screen. It won’t show up when you print the document.

Q. Can I customize the ruler in Word?
A. Of course! You can adjust the ruler for margins and indents by dragging the markers on it.

Q. What if I prefer not to use a ruler at all?
A. You can simply uncheck the “Ruler” box in the “View” tab whenever you want to hide it.

Q. How does the ruler help me in my document?
A. The ruler helps you align text, set margins, and manage indents, making your document look neat and organized.

Conclusion

Knowing how to show rulers in Word is handy for anyone who wants to produce well-formatted, professional documents. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced user, the rulers provide valuable guidance for aligning text, images, and other elements.

Always explore Word’s various features to become more efficient and creative in your work. Happy writing!

About the Author

David Harris is a content writer at Adazing with 20 years of experience navigating the ever-evolving worlds of publishing and technology. Equal parts editor, tech enthusiast, and caffeine connoisseur, he’s spent decades turning big ideas into polished prose. As a former Technical Writer for a cloud-based publishing software company and a Ghostwriter of over 60 books, David’s expertise spans technical precision and creative storytelling. At Adazing, he brings a knack for clarity and a love of the written word to every project—while still searching for the keyboard shortcut that refills his coffee.