Even though a table starts out as a strict grid of cells, you can change a table’s layout by merging multiple cells together, as well as splitting a cell into multiple cells.
You can combine several smaller cells into a single, larger cell that spans the space previously occupied by the individual cells.
The selected cells are merged into a single cell that takes up the entire width and height of the original cells.
Cells can also be broken up into several smaller cells by using the Split Cells command.
You can also split an entire table in two, letting you move part of it somewhere else. You can move the new part to another page, another document, or just add text or s in the space between the split table.
Merging cells in Microsoft Word allows you to combine two or more cells into one larger cell. This can be useful for creating more dynamic and customized tables and formatting your documents. With just a few clicks, you can merge cells horizontally, vertically or in a block in Word.
When Should You Merge Cells in Word?
Here are some common situations when merging cells in Word comes in handy
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Consolidating data If you have data in separate cells that are related you can merge the cells to bring the information together. For example merging first and last name cells into one larger cell.
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Creating headings: Merge cells across columns or rows to create larger cells for titles or headings in your table.
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Formatting: Merge cells to break up information visually or create more customized layouts and designs for your tables.
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Spanning multiple pages: Merge cells vertically across pages to allow headings or labels to repeat at the top of table columns on multiple pages.
How to Merge Two Adjacent Cells
Merging two adjacent cells is quick and easy in Word. Here are the steps:
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Select the two cells you want to merge. To select a cell, click inside the cell.
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On the Table Tools tab, click the “Merge Cells” button. It’s in the Merge group.
Or right-click your selected cells and choose “Merge Cells”.
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The selected cells will merge into one larger cell.
That’s all there is to it! This merges the cells while keeping the text or information from the top-left selected cell.
You can also use the keyboard shortcut Alt + A + M to merge selected cells.
Merging a Range of Cells
In addition to merging two side-by-side cells, you can also select and merge a range or block of cells in Word. Here’s how:
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Select the range of cells you want to merge. To select multiple cells, click and drag across the cells.
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Go to the Table Tools tab > Merge > Merge Cells.
Or right-click and select Merge Cells.
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The selected block of cells will merge into one cell.
Again, the text will be retained from the top-left cell by default.
Merging Entire Columns or Rows
If you want to merge entire columns or rows in your table, the steps are almost the same:
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Select the columns or rows you want to merge. To select an entire column, click the column header letter. To select a row, click the row header number.
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Go to Merge Cells to combine them.
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The columns or rows will merge into one wider column or row in your table.
MergingVerticallyAcrossPages
With long tables in Word that span multiple pages, you may want headings or labels to repeat at the top of columns. By merging cells vertically, you can make this happen.
To merge cells vertically across pages:
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Select the cell(s) you want to merge.
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Go to Merge Cells but click the drop-down arrow next to the button first.
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Choose “Merge Cells Vertically” from the menu.
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The selected cells will now merge continuously across the pages of your document.
Merging Horizontally in aTable
Similar to vertically, you can also merge table cells horizontally across pages in Word. The steps are the same:
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Select the cells to merge.
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Click the Merge Cells button and choose “Merge Cells Horizontally” from the menu.
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The cells will merge continuously across pages horizontally.
Unmerging Cells in Word
Accidentally merged the wrong cells or want to undo a merge? No problem, unmerging cells is easy:
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Select the merged cell you want to split.
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Go to Table Tools > Layout > Split Cells.
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Enter how many rows and columns to split the cell into.
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Click OK to unmerge the cell.
You can also right-click a merged cell and choose “Split Cells” to undo the merge.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Merging Cells
In addition to the clickable buttons, you can use these handy keyboard shortcuts for merging cells in Word:
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Merge cells: Alt + A + M
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Merge cells vertically: Alt + A + V
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Merge cells horizontally: Alt + A + H
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Split cells: Alt + A + S
These shortcuts make merging and unmerging table cells quick and easy!
Tips for Merging Cells in Word
Here are some top tips to make merging table cells seamless:
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Be precise when selecting cells to avoid accidentally merging extra cells. Zooming in can help.
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If content disappears from other cells, double check what cell you have selected as the top-left cell. This is where the content will pull from.
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Pay attention to merging entire rows vs columns. Mixing them up can distort your layout.
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To evenly distribute columns/rows, select them and right-click to choose “Distribute Columns” or “Distribute Rows”.
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To keep text centered in a merged cell, select the text and click the center alignment button on the toolbar before merging.
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For complex or multi-page tables, consider inserting section breaks between portions. This will help avoid unexpected formatting issues.
Common Questions about Merging Cells in Word
Here are answers to some common questions about this feature:
Can you merge cells from different tables?
No, you can only merge cells within the same table in Word. To merge between two tables, you’ll need to move or copy the information to one table first.
What happens when you merge cells with information?
The text and formatting will be taken from the upper-left selected cell by default. Content from other cells will not be deleted but will be hidden after merging.
Is there a way to merge tables in Word?
There’s no dedicated merge table function, but you can copy or move rows between tables to combine the data into one table. Just be sure to delete any extra empty rows/columns afterwards.
Can you merge a mix of cells, rows, and columns together?
Yes, you can select and merge a mix of individual cells, full columns/rows, or blocks of cells all at the same time in Word. Just be careful in your selection to avoid accidentally merging unneeded cells.
Conclusion
With this step-by-step guide, you should now feel comfortable merging two cells together in Word seamlessly. From adjacent cells to entire rows and columns, merging gives you greater flexibility to customize tables for reports, documents, and more.
Remember to use precise selections, watch out for formatting quirks on multi-page tables, and leverage those handy keyboard shortcuts. And should you make a mistake and merge the wrong cells, you can easily unmerge at any time.
Merge cells strategically as needed to organize and present information in Word effectively. It takes just a few clicks to achieve cleaner and more professional documents.
