A text box lets you place a callout or label separately from the main body text in Word. The steps differ between desktop Word and Word for the web.
Insert a text box in desktop Word
- Place the cursor near where you want the box.
- Choose Insert > Text Box. Select a built-in style, or choose Draw Text Box to draw one at your preferred size.
- Click inside the box and type or paste your text. To move the whole box, select its border and drag it when the pointer shows four arrows. Drag a sizing handle to resize it.
To format the words, select the text and use the Home tab. To change the box itself, select its border and use Shape Format. For example, you can change its fill and outline, or adjust how surrounding document text wraps around it.
Add a text box in Word for the web
In the browser version, place the cursor where the box should appear, then choose Insert > Drawing > Text Box. Draw the box in the Drawing pane, type your text, and select Save and Close. To edit it later, double-click the box, make changes in the Drawing pane, and save again. The browser path is different from the desktop Text Box gallery.
Move, copy, or delete the whole box
- Move: Select the border and drag the box. If it will not move where you expect, check its wrapping or positioning options under Shape Format.
- Copy: Select the border, press Ctrl+C, choose a new location, then press Ctrl+V. If you select the text inside instead, Word copies only the words.
- Delete: Select the border and press Delete. If the insertion point is inside the box, Delete removes text instead of the box.
If you want to keep the box but hide its line, see our guide to removing a text box border.
For help with boxes that won’t select, several boxes at once, or boxes in a header, see how to remove a text box in Word.
When should you use a text box?
Use one for a short callout, caption, or movable label. For long text that should flow naturally across pages, an ordinary paragraph or table is easier to maintain. Check the result in Print Layout before sharing because a floating box can affect nearby text.
Source: Microsoft Support: Add, copy, or remove a text box in Word.
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