What a section break does and when you need one
A section break in Word lets you change formatting — like page orientation, margins, headers, or column layout — in the middle of a document without affecting the rest of it. Without a section break, a formatting change applies to your entire document. With one, you can have the first three pages in portrait mode and the fourth page in landscape, or use different headers on different pages.
You need a section break when you want part of your document to look different from another part. Common reasons include switching from single-column text to a two-column layout for a bibliography, rotating one page to landscape for a wide table, or using different page numbers on different sections.
Key Takeaways
- Section breaks are inserted from the Layout tab under Breaks, and you choose between Continuous, Next Page, Odd Page, or Even Page depending on whether you want the new section on the same page or a new one.
- A Continuous section break keeps text flowing on the same page but lets you change margins, columns, or headers without starting a new page.
- After inserting a section break, you change formatting for that section only by modifying the header, footer, or page setup while your cursor is in that section.
- Section breaks appear as dotted lines in your document when you turn on formatting marks, making them visible so you can edit or delete them later.
How to insert a section break
Open your document and click where you want the section break to begin. This is the point where the formatting will change. Go to the Layout tab at the top of the ribbon. In the Page Setup group, click Breaks.
A menu appears with four section break options. Choose the one that fits what you need:
- Continuous — starts a new section on the same page, used when you want to change columns or margins without a page break.
- Next Page — starts the new section on the next page, the most common choice when you need a page break anyway.
- Odd Page — starts the new section on the next odd-numbered page, useful for chapters that should always begin on the right side of a book.
- Even Page — starts the new section on the next even-numbered page.
Click your choice. Word inserts the break and you are now in the new section. Any formatting changes you make from this point forward apply only to this section and any sections that follow it, unless you change the formatting again.
Changing formatting in a specific section
After you insert a section break, place your cursor anywhere in the section you want to modify. Then make your change. For example, to change margins in one section only, click in that section, go to Layout, click Margins, and choose a new margin size. That change affects only the current section.
The same applies to headers and footers. If you want different headers in different sections, click in the section where you want a new header, go to the Insert tab, click Header, and design it. Word automatically creates a new header for that section. To link it back to the previous section's header (so they match again), open the header, and click Link to Previous in the Design tab.
For page orientation — switching from portrait to landscape — click in the section you want to rotate, go to Layout, click Orientation, and choose Landscape. Only that section rotates.
Viewing and deleting section breaks
Section breaks are invisible by default, which can make them hard to find if you need to edit or remove one. To see them, go to the Home tab and click the ¶ (pilcrow) button in the Paragraph group. This turns on formatting marks, and section breaks appear as a dotted line with the words "Section Break (Next Page)" or "Section Break (Continuous)" depending on the type.
To delete a section break, click on the dotted line and press Delete. The section above it merges with the section below, and any formatting unique to the deleted section reverts to match the section it merged into. If you delete a section break and your formatting changes unexpectedly, undo the deletion by pressing Ctrl+Z.
Common section break mistakes and how to avoid them
The most frequent error is inserting a section break but forgetting to change the formatting afterward. The break itself does nothing visible — it only creates a container for different formatting. If you insert a Continuous section break and then do not change margins, columns, or headers, the document looks unchanged.
Another mistake is using Next Page when Continuous would work better. If you want to change only the number of columns or the margins, use Continuous so the text keeps flowing. Use Next Page only when you actually need a new page to start, such as for a new chapter or a landscape table that needs its own page.
A third issue is changing formatting without first clicking in the section you want to modify. If your cursor is in Section 1 and you change the margins, Section 1 changes — not Section 2. Always place your cursor in the section you intend to modify before making the change.
Section breaks versus page breaks
A page break (inserted with Ctrl+Enter) simply moves to the next page and keeps the same formatting. A section break moves to a new location (same page or next page, depending on type) and lets you change formatting. If you only need to start a new page with the same look, use a page break. If you need different formatting on that new page, use a section break.
Think of it this way: a page break is a line in the sand. A section break is a line in the sand plus a rule change. Use the simpler tool — the page break — when you do not need the rule change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have different page numbers in different sections?
Yes. Insert a section break where you want the numbering to change. Click in the new section, go to Insert, click Page Number, and choose a location. Then go to the Design tab (which appears when you are editing a header or footer) and uncheck Link to Previous. Now that section has its own page numbering, which you can restart at any number you choose.
What happens if I delete a section break by accident?
The two sections merge and the formatting of the section below the break takes over. Press Ctrl+Z immediately to undo and restore the break. If you have made other changes since, undo multiple times or use the Undo menu to jump back to before the deletion.
Why does my section break not work when I change margins?
Make sure your cursor is in the section you want to change before you adjust the margins. If your cursor is in the wrong section, the change applies there instead. Also check that you inserted the section break in the right place — it should be at the point where you want the formatting to change, not before or after.
Can I use section breaks to create a two-column layout for only part of my document?
Yes. Insert a Continuous section break where you want the columns to start. Click in that section, go to Layout, click Columns, and choose two columns. Insert another Continuous section break where you want to return to one column, click in that section, and set it back to one column. The middle section displays in two columns while the rest stays single-column.