Change paragraph direction

Microsoft Office Word 2003

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  • Place the insertion point in the paragraph that you want to change, or select several paragraphs.
  • Do one of the following:
    • To have text begin from the left, click Left-to-Right Button image on the Formatting toolbar.
    • To have text begin from the right, click Right-to-Left Button image on the Formatting toolbar.

    • When you change the paragraph direction, Microsoft Word leaves justified and centered text as it is. In the case of left-aligned or right-aligned text, Word flips the alignment to its opposite. For example, if you have a left-to-right paragraph that is right aligned, such as the date at the top of a letter, clicking Right-to-Left Button image results in a right-to-left paragraph that is left aligned.

    ShowAbout tabs in right-to-left documents

    The tab direction follows the paragraph direction— for example, when you change a left-to-right paragraph to a right-to-left paragraph, the left tabs become right tabs— that is, they are repositioned relative to the direction of a paragraph. Center and decimal tab types are not affected by changes in paragraph language or direction.

    Tab leaders extend to the left in right-to-left paragraphs. When you select Show/Hide Paragraph mark Button image, right-to-left tabs are represented by the symbol Left-pointing horizontal arrow.

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