To curve text in desktop Word, insert WordArt, select the WordArt object, then choose Shape Format > Text Effects > Transform and pick an arch or circle effect. Resize the object to change the shape of the curve. The effect is applied to the object, so it works best for a short title or label rather than a paragraph.
Curve text with WordArt
- Place the insertion point where you want the curved title or label.
- Choose Insert > WordArt and select a style. Replace the placeholder with your own words.
- Click the WordArt object so the Shape Format tab appears. Choose Text Effects > Transform.
- Pick an effect under Follow Path for an arch or circle, or choose a Warp effect for a different bend.
- Drag the object’s corner or side sizing handles until the curve and spacing look right. Click outside the object to inspect the result.
The WordArt button is in the Text group on the Insert tab; its icon may look different depending on the ribbon width. If Shape Format is missing, select the border of the WordArt object again. Opening the ordinary Font Color menu does not expose the Transform choices.
Make a complete circle
Choose Circle under Follow Path, then change the object’s width and height with its sizing handles. A longer phrase needs more room around the circumference than a short word. If letters bunch together, enlarge the WordArt object, reduce the font size, or shorten the text. A circle effect may leave a gap when the phrase is short; that is a property of the text length, not a broken setting.
Change the look without losing the curve
Select the object and use Shape Format > Text Fill to change the letters’ color, Text Outline for an edge, or Text Effects for effects such as shadow. To try another curve, return to Text Effects > Transform. To make the lettering straight again, choose No Transform. You can also select the text inside the object and adjust its font and size from the Home tab.
For the basics of adding WordArt and changing its fill, outline, and font, see how to insert WordArt in Word.
Can you curve a normal text box?
Yes. Microsoft’s Transform effects also work on a regular text box. Insert a text box, type the words, select the box, and use Shape Format > Text Effects > Transform. If the command does not appear, make sure the text box itself is selected. This is useful when you already have a positioned text box and do not want to insert another object.
What if the words are already in the document?
You can select an existing short heading and choose Insert > WordArt in some desktop versions, then check that Word made a separate WordArt object. If that route does not carry the wording over in your version, copy the heading, insert WordArt, and paste the wording into the placeholder. Remove the original plain heading only after the new object has the correct text. Curved WordArt is a positioned object rather than a normal paragraph, so check its placement after editing nearby text.
Word for the web and common problems
Word for the web can display WordArt already in a document, but Microsoft says you need desktop Word to add more WordArt. Open the document in the desktop app when the Insert or Transform option is unavailable online.
- Transform is absent: Select the WordArt or text box, open Shape Format, and look inside Text Effects, not Shape Effects.
- The text is hard to read: Use a gentler arch, larger object, simpler font, or higher contrast fill.
- The object moves with nearby text: Set its text wrapping or position deliberately, then check the layout again before printing.
For the underlying controls, see Microsoft’s curved text instructions and WordArt formatting guide.
Matt has been writing about Microsoft Windows and other Microsoft products since the days of Windows XP. He spends much of his time writing for sites like WindowBrain.com