Generally, using Microsoft Word is easy. However, there can be situations when users face some troubles while working with the program, such as the inability to delete pages. For example, deleting a particular page may impact other elements of a document.
Actually, getting rid of a page in Word is not that difficult. The matter is that documents have special hidden formatting elements which often lead to different complications. In this article, we’ll explore the topic and consider all nuances related to deleting various pages.
Why Pages in Word Can Be Difficult to Delete
Before getting into details, it is necessary to understand the reason for which it is complicated to delete a page.
Here is the list of hidden formatting elements which make deleting a particular page difficult.
Paragraph marks (¶)
Page breaks
Section breaks
End-of-document marker
What does it mean? Such formatting elements control content placement, which is why a certain page appears to be empty or full with some additional content.
How to Delete a Blank Page in Word
A common problem faced by many users who work with Word is an empty page.
Step-by-Step Instruction (Windows and Mac)
Click anywhere inside the document
Make formatting marks visible:
Windows: Ctrl + Shift + 8
Mac: Command + 8
Go to the blank page
Search for such elements:
Paragraph marks (¶)
Page break
Highlight these elements
Press the Delete button until the page gets removed
After doing everything described above, make sure to hide all formatting marks.
Why do these steps work? They allow you to remove invisible elements causing a blank page.
How to Delete the Final Paragraph Which Leads to the Creation of the Blank Page
As we’ve mentioned previously, Word automatically inserts a final paragraph at the end of each document. Actually, this element cannot be entirely removed. However, you can change the size of the element.
If it ends up on another page, an additional page will be added to the document.
Steps to Take
Press Ctrl + Shift + 8 or Command + 8
Click to highlight the final paragraph mark
Change the font size to 1
Hit the Enter button
Why are these actions useful?
These steps allow you to reduce the size of the paragraph so that it would fit on the previous page, which leads to removing a blank page.
How to Delete a Certain Page without Affecting Other Elements
There can be situations when you need to get rid of a page with content without impacting anything else. If so, you should follow the instruction provided below.
Step-by-Step Process
Open the Navigation pane
Go to the View tab
Switch on the navigation pane
Find the page you wish to delete
Click the Pages tab
Find the required page
Highlight all elements placed on this page
Do it by clicking anywhere at the beginning of the text and holding down the Shift button
Then click anywhere at the end of the text
Press Delete
After completing all described actions, there is a possibility that you will see an extra blank page. You can delete this page according to previously explained instructions.
How Page Breaks Work in Word
Another element causing the appearance of additional pages is page breaks.
Here are two kinds of page breaks that can be found in Word.
Manual page break (you insert it)
Automatic page break (Word places it)
How to Delete a Page Break
Highlight all formatting marks (¶)
Find the page break
Put the insertion point before the break
Press the Delete button
What does this action mean?
As a result, you can merge content of pages and get rid of the additional page.
Working with Section Breaks Carefully
Another element that needs attention is a section break since it controls formatting of pages including margins, header and footer etc.
Steps to Take
Go to the Layout tab
Find the Breaks option
Click it
Find a section break
Place the insertion point before this element
Press the Delete key
Important Note: Be very careful since deletion of the element may affect the entire document.
Dealing with the Most Common Page Deletion Problems
Problem #1: There is a Blank Page which I Cannot Delete
It usually means that there are some hidden paragraph marks or page breaks.
What can I do about it? Make all formatting elements visible, find and delete them.
Problem #2: Deletion of a Certain Page Has Impacted Other Parts
Most likely, the reason for such behavior is a section break.
What can I do about it? Make sure that you delete this break correctly.
Problem #3: There is Extra Space at the End of the Document
There might be such reasons: large paragraph spacing or hidden marks.
What should I do? Try changing spacing or reducing the size of the last paragraph.
How to Prevent Appearance of Unwanted Pages in the Future
There are several ways to protect your document from additional pages.
Try avoiding the insertion of page breaks
Use formatting tools rather than manual spacing
Remember to review formatting marks regularly
Make sure that your document is well-structured
Advanced Tips
Use the Find and Replace Option for Deleting Page Breaks
You can easily find all page breaks in your document and eliminate them.
Steps to Take
Press Ctrl + F
Type ^m into the field (it is a page break symbol)
Eliminate all elements if necessary
Consider Using Styles Rather Than Manually Inserted Format
Using styles allows Word to control content formatting automatically.
Review Your Document for Compatibility Issues
There may be cases when an older version of Word is not able to deal with new functions.
Why is it Important to Know More about Word Structure?
All features and functions of Word are based on certain rules of structure. Thus, knowledge of these things allows managing the program effectively.
