If you want to add columns in Google Docs, here is how you can do that on the web. This feature is not available on mobile apps, but you can show newspaper-like columns in your document using Google Docs for the web. For this, you do not need any add-on since Google Docs includes an in-built option made for this purpose.
How to make columns in Google Docs
To create or add Newspaper-like Columns in Google Docs, follow these steps:
- Open the document in Google Docs on your computer.
- Select the text you want to convert in columns.
- Go to Format > Columns.
- Choose a column style from the list.
- Select More options > Spacing > choose a value.
- Click the Apply button to change spaces.
Let’s check out these steps in detail.
At first, open the document in Google Docs on your computer and select the text in your document. Your selection must be limited to a paragraph. Otherwise, it will merge with another paragraph.
Then, go to Format and select the Columns option. Here you can find two options – two-column view and three-column view.
You can choose one option as per your requirements. Once done, you can find columns in your Google Docs document. On the other hand, you can change the spacing between two columns or add a line. For that, select the More options from Format > Columns and select the value accordingly.
To add a line between two columns, tick the Line between columns checkbox and click the Apply button.
How to convert the entire document to columns?
Converting an entire document is even simpler than adding one column in Google Docs. In the aforementioned guide, you selected a particular paragraph. However, in this case, you have to click on any paragraph, go to Format > Columns and choose a column view according to your requirements.
How do I type in another column in Google Docs?
When you convert a paragraph into a column and start typing in the first column, the text will start moving towards the second or third column. It happens to make everything symmetrical. However, if you want to add text to one column and don’t want to move the rest of the text to another column, you can use the Column break feature. For that, select a location where you want to add the text and go to Insert > Break > Column break. Then, you can start typing.
How do you add columns and rows in Google Docs?
There are two meanings of adding columns and rows in Google Docs – adding them to a table and adding them as you did earlier. To do the former one, follow this detailed tutorial to add or edit tables in Google Docs. Otherwise, you can follow the aforementioned steps to add newspaper-like columns.
How do I make 3 columns in Google Docs?
Adding two and three columns are not different, and you can follow the same guide to make three columns in Google Docs. To be specific, you can select the text in Google Docs > go to Format > Columns > choose the three-column view from the list.
Alternatively, you can expand the More options panel and choose the number of columns from the drop-down list.
How do I create multiple columns in Google Docs?
It is possible to create multiple separate columns in Google Docs. For that, you have to choose the paragraphs separately and go to Format > Columns. In other words, you have to repeat the same steps to create multiple columns in Google Docs. Following that, you can add line or change space between two paragraphs using the same method as above.
Can I make 4 columns in Google Docs?
As of now, it is not possible to make four columns in Google Docs. You can create up to three columns in your Google Docs document.
How do I start columns in the middle of a Google Doc?
You can add or start columns anywhere in your document. If there is a paragraph in the beginning or at the end, you can select it and follow the same method to create a column.
How to split a column in Google Docs?
You can split a column in Google Docs using the Column break option, included in the web version of Google Docs. For that, you can place your mouse cursor in a location from where you want to split the column and go to Insert > Break > Column break. Your existing column will be divided into two sections, and you can start typing in the first section without changing the view on the second or third section.
How do I delete the second or third column in Google Docs?
It is not possible to delete one column and show the rest of the text in another column in Google Docs. If you delete the second or third column, the entire first column will automatically take those two columns.
Creating or adding columns in Google Docs is not that difficult – especially when it has an in-built option. Do let us know if you want to do more with this functionality.
