The Sisyphus Comments

Add Shadows to Paragraphs in Word

Most folks know placing a border around a paragraph makes the text look like it’s in a box.  To make it look even more professional , you can add a drop shadow to your text, giving it a 3-D appearance (the text will “stand out” from the rest of your document).

Here’s how to add a drop shadow to a paragraph:

1. Move your insertion point (the blinking vertical bar that indicates where your cursor is) inside the paragraph you want to change.

2. From the Format menu, choose the Borders and Shading command.

3. From the Borders and Shading dialog box, pick the Borders tab.

4. In the Setting  area (it’s the leftmost column in the dialog box), select the Shadow effect.

5. In the Width drop-down, choose the heaviness of the shadow.  Choose “1/2 point” for a light shadow.

6. Click on OK.

Word will add a border around the entire paragraph.  The right and bottom borders are heavier (thicker), giving the text that three-dimensional look.  (See our online edition this week for an example.)

Note: You can put a shadow around multiple paragraphs.  Instead of moving your insertion point in Step 1, select the paragraphs you want surrounded.  Complete the remaining steps, and Word places a single box around all the paragraphs you selected.