7.4 Images, shapes and page layout
Pictures stay next to the text they belong to.
Before:00. Getting Your FootingUnlocks:08. Word — Long Documents & Expert
Pictures jump around Word documents for a reason, and the reason is anchors and text wrapping, which this topic finally explains. Alongside sit inserting, cropping and compressing images, margins, columns and page setup. It comes after styles and lists because page layout is easier once text behaves. The common confusion is exactly the jumping picture: an image is anchored to a paragraph, and when that paragraph moves, the picture follows — once wrapping and anchoring are set deliberately, images stay next to the text they belong to. Alt text on every image continues the habit from the opening module.
Work through these
Inserting, cropping and compressing images
Inserting a picture, cropping it to what matters, and compressing it so the file stays sendable. The compression step is the one people skip and then wonder about file size.
Text wrapping and anchors — the reason pictures jump
Whether text flows around a picture, and what the picture is attached to, are the two settings that decide whether it stays put. This is the answer to why pictures jump around.
Margins, orientation, columns and page size
Margins, orientation, columns and paper size are set for the document or for a section of it. Getting these right early avoids reflowing everything later.
Alt text on every image
A description on every image is what makes the document usable by someone who cannot see it, and it takes seconds per picture. It is also checked by the built-in accessibility tool.
Practice file
- wd-01-formatting.docx
Two pages of unformatted text with manual spacing to fix using styles.
Opens in Word. Every name, number and address in these files is made up. No account needed to download.
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Links last checked 29 Aug 2026.
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