Page Breaks in Microsoft Word 2016 — Easy Guide

This guide explains page breaks in Microsoft Word 2016. I write clearly and with short sentences. You will learn how to insert, view, and remove page breaks. You will also see section, column, and wrapping breaks. The steps are easy. They work in Word 2016 on Windows.

Why use page breaks?

Page breaks help control where a new page starts. They keep content tidy. Use them instead of pressing Enter many times. They prevent format problems if you edit text later. Use page breaks for chapter starts, cover pages, or new sections.

Quick view: what you will learn

• How to insert a manual page break.
• How to see and delete breaks.
• How section breaks let you change formatting per area.
• When to use column and text-wrapping breaks.

Insert a manual page break

Position the cursor where the new page should start. Then either:

• Go to the Insert tab and click Page Break.
• Use the shortcut: Ctrl+Enter (Windows).

A page break moves the following text to the next page. This keeps spacing consistent. It is cleaner than repeated Enter keys.

View and delete page breaks

Page breaks are invisible by default. To see them:

1. Click the Home tab.
2. Click the Show/Hide ¶ button. This shows formatting marks.

Manual page breaks show as a dotted line with the words Page Break. To delete one, place the cursor at the start of the break and press Delete. Or select the mark and press Delete.

Section breaks — control formatting per area

Section breaks split a document into separate parts. Each part can have its own headers, footers, margins, or columns. Use section breaks when you need different layouts in one file.

Types of section breaks

• Next Page — moves content to the next page and starts a new section.
• Continuous — starts a new section on the same page.
• Even Page / Odd Page — forces the next section to begin on an even or odd page.

Insert a section break

1. Place the cursor where you want the new section.
2. Click the Page Layout tab (or Layout in some Ribbon setups).
3. Click Breaks and choose the desired section break.

Other useful breaks

• Column break — moves text to the next column when using multiple columns.
• Text wrapping break — controls how text wraps around images or objects.

Delete any break

To delete page or section breaks:

1. Enable formatting marks with Show/Hide ¶.
2. Click just before the break marker.
3. Press the Delete key. For section breaks you may need to remove extra blank lines too.

Practical examples

• Start a new chapter: insert a Page Break before the chapter heading.
• Different header on a chapter: insert a Section Break — Next Page, then change the header.
• Multi-column article with an image: use Column Break to place text after the image.

Best practices

• Avoid using Enter to force new pages. Use page breaks instead.
• Use section breaks only when you need different formatting.
• Show formatting marks when troubleshooting layout issues.

5 FAQs about Page Breaks in Word 2016

How do I insert a page break quickly?

Place the cursor where you want the new page. Press Ctrl+Enter. Or go to Insert → Page Break.

How do I see hidden page breaks?

Go to Home and click the Show/Hide ¶ button. This shows page and section break markers.

What is the difference between page and section breaks?

Page breaks move text to the next page. Section breaks split the document so each area can have different formatting like headers, columns, or margins.

How can I remove a section break without losing content?

Show formatting marks, place the cursor at the start of the section break, and press Delete. Check headers and footers afterward; they may inherit settings from nearby sections.

Will page breaks move when I edit text?

Yes. Page breaks preserve relative content. They keep the next content on a new page even if you add or remove text above.

Conclusion

Page, section, and column breaks are simple tools. They give you control over layout and flow. Use them to make documents look professional. Show formatting marks when you edit. Practice inserting and removing breaks to become faster. These tips will keep your Word 2016 files organized and easier to edit later.