How to add or remove the ruler in Word and get the most out of it

If you often work with text documents, sooner or later you'll discover that Word rule It is an essential aid. to control margins, indents, tabs, and the exact position of content on the page. However, it's also normal for it to sometimes get in the way, and you might want to hide it to have more workspace.

In this article you will see How to add or remove the ruler in Word Step by step, learn how to activate the horizontal and vertical rulers, how to change units of measurement, and how to use all its controls to format your documents with precision. Everything is explained in clear, approachable language, designed for the average user who wants to master Word without getting overwhelmed.

What is the Word ruler and what exactly is it used for?

Before adjusting any settings, it's important to understand that Word uses two main rulesOne horizontal bar at the top of the writing area and another vertical bar on the left side (the latter only in certain views and versions). Both display units of measurement that serve as a visual guide to where the content begins and ends.

When you configure Word to display measurements in centimeters, for example, The number 2 on the horizontal ruler indicates that you are 2 cm from the left margin of the page. This is key to accurately aligning titles, paragraphs, images, tables, or any object, rather than "by eye."

The rule is also very useful for knowing in what exact part of the width or height of the page Your elements are located there. move an image Or, to modify an indent, you'll see how the indicators move along the ruler and you can adjust with much greater precision.

In addition to showing measurements, the ruler includes specific sliders and markers to control indents, paragraph margins, and tab stops. Mastering these controls allows you to format professional documents: letters, contracts, reports, academic papers, and all types of texts that require a clean structure.

How to show or hide the ruler in Word from the View tab

The fastest way to Add or remove the Word ruler It's right there in the ribbon. No need to wade through complicated menus: it's accessible with just a couple of clicks, allowing you to show it or hide it when you don't need it.

To enable or disable the horizontal ruler in most modern versions (Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, Word 2021, Word 2019 and Word 2016 in Windows y Mac):

1. Click on the tab Eyeglasses from the top ribbon of Word.
2. Within the group of options called Show (it may appear as “Mostrar” or “Show” if you have Word in another language), locate the box Ruler.
3. Check the box if you want The rule will appear immediately on the document.If it's already checked and you want to hide it, simply uncheck the box.

It's possible that on small screens or if you have the Word window minimized, the group Show It's not fully visible. In that case, maximize window Or increase the width and you will see the options “Ruler”, “Grid lines” and others like them appear.

This box primarily controls the horizontal rule of the topIn many configurations, when certain conditions are met (such as being in Print Layout View and having the vertical ruler active), you will also see the left-side ruler appear.

How to activate the vertical ruler in Word

The vertical ruler is not always displayed automatically, even if you have the option enabled. Ruler in the View tabTo see the ruler along the left edge of the page, you need to have the appropriate view set up and activate an additional option in Word's advanced settings.

In the desktop versions For Windows (Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, Word 2021, Word 2019 and Word 2016), to make the vertical ruler appear you must follow these steps:

1. First, check that you're in the correct view. On the tab Eyeglasses, Select Print layout (or “Print Layout”). The vertical ruler is only displayed in this mode.
2. Go to menu Archive in the top left-hand corner.
3. Click on Options to open the Word settings box.
4. In the left panel, select the category You advanced.
5. Scroll down until you find the block called Show (It may be approximately halfway down the list of options).
6. Check the box Show vertical ruler in Print Layout view.
7. Press on Accept To save the changes.

Once this option is activated, every time you are in Print layout and have the rule visible from the View tab, You will also see the vertical ruler on the left sideIf you switch to another view, such as Reading or Draft, the vertical ruler will disappear as it is not compatible with those modes.

In Word for Mac the procedure is similar: you also have to go to Word preferences And, within the view or advanced options section, activate the checkbox to show the vertical ruler when using the print layout.

Versions of Word where you can use the ruler

The rule functionality is present in virtually all modern versions of WordHowever, the appearance or the way to activate certain options changes slightly depending on the system.

Between desktop versions and services Where you can work with the Word ruler are included, among others:

• Word for Microsoft 365 (Windows and Mac).
• Word 2024 y Word 2024 for Mac.
• Word 2021 y Word 2021 for Mac.
• Word 2019.
• Word 2016.
• Word for the Web (integrated into Microsoft365.com).
• Mobile applications like My Office for iPhonewhere the rule is more limited but some alignment and measurement tool still exists.

In the web version of Word, the ruler is displayed in a somewhat simplified way, but The logic is very similar.: allows you to view measurements and adjust certain aspects of the layout, with fewer advanced controls than in the desktop version.

Keep in mind that on small screens, especially on mobile phones, Word tries to prioritize the writing area above advanced tools like the ruler, so some functions are hidden or shown only in specific orientations (for example, horizontally).

Change the unit of measurement of the ruler in Word

By default, depending on your system's regional settings, the rule may appear with the measurements in incheswhich many users find impractical. Ideally, you should adapt the unit of measurement to what you usually use: centimeters, millimeters, points, or picas.

To change the unit of the rule in Word for Windows (Microsoft 365, 2024, 2021, 2019, 2016):

1. Click on the menu Archive from the upper left corner.
2. Choose Options to open the Word general settings dialog box.
3. In the left panel, enter the section You advanced.
4. Scroll down to the section Show.
5. Look for the option Display measurements in units of.
6. Open the drop-down menu and choose your preferred unit: inches, centimeters, millimeters, points or picas.
7. Click on Accept to apply the changes.

As soon as you press OK, you'll see how The rule updates instantly with the new unitThis not only affects the ruler, but also many other measurement options within Word (margins, indents, object sizes, etc.).

In Word for Mac and other versions, the path is similar, although the menus may have slightly different names. You will typically need to go to Word preferences, then to the section of Compatibility or Advanced and change the default unit of measurement there.

How Word ruler controls work

Beyond displaying numbers, the Word rule includes a series of indicators and sliders These tools allow you to adjust paragraph formatting with great precision. If you look at the horizontal ruler, you'll see several triangles and rectangles on the left, as well as a small tab selector in the corner.

These elements control aspects such as left and right indentationFirst-line indentation and hanging indentation are especially useful when you want different paragraphs to have specific alignments without having to go into complicated dialog boxes each time.

It's best to select the text you want to format before making any changes. This way, Any adjustment to the rule will be applied to the selected paragraphs and you'll be able to see instantly how each change affects the overall design.

Once you've had some practice, you'll find that adjusting indents by moving these sliders is much faster and more visual than doing it from the "Paragraph" window. Furthermore, You can combine multiple controls at once. to achieve more elaborate layouts, such as lists with hanging indents or blocks of quotes with special indentation.

Types of indentation you can control from the ruler

The horizontal ruler displays several sliders that affect how lines are positioned within a paragraph. Mastering these sliders allows you to play with... different types of sangria in a very intuitive way.

The main controls What you will see are:

• left indentationIt's a rectangle or marker located in the lower left corner of the slider set. If you drag it, You move the entire block of text inwards or outwards of the selected paragraph (or paragraphs), including the first line and the following lines.
• Top of the line sangriaIt is represented as a triangle located at the top, aligned with the left side of the paragraph. When you drag it, only the first line moves of the paragraph, leaving the others where they were. This is what many people call "normal indentation," which is used in justified texts or academic papers.
• hanging indentationThis is the triangle located at the bottom, linked to the left indent but moving independently. When you drag it, All lines except the first one are shifted to the right or to the left, leaving the first line in its original position. It is frequently used in bibliographic lists and enumerations where the first line serves as a heading.
• right indentationAt the far right of the ruler, you'll find another marker that controls where the text ends. By moving it, You adjust the right indent of the paragraph, that is, the point where the lines begin to intersect on the right.

The simplest way to understand the difference between all these concepts is Select a test paragraph and move each control Separately. Observe how the position of each line changes and get used to recognizing what each triangle or rectangle does. Once you've mastered this, layout will be much faster.

How to use the ruler to set tabs in Word

Another very powerful feature of the Word ruler is the ability to place tab stops exactly where you need them. Tabs are useful for aligning text in makeshift columns, creating more complex lists, or forma tear numerical data without resorting to tables.

At the far left of the horizontal ruler, just next to the intersection of the rulers, you'll see a small square button displaying a symbol. This button is the tab type selector and it allows you to choose what kind of tab stop you're going to place next on the rule.

Types of tabulation The options you can choose from include, but are not limited to:

• Left tab: sets a point where text will begin to scroll to the right. Each time you press the Tab key, the cursor will jump to that position and the text will align with the left edge at that mark.
• Central tab: establishes a central point for the text. When writing, The letters will be distributed to both sides of the brand, with the content focused on that position.
• Right tab: marks a point where the writing will end. The text is "filled" to the left, so that the right end of the line is aligned with the ruler marker.
• Decimal tabulatorDesigned for numbers, it allows all the numbers should be aligned by the comma or decimal point.regardless of the number of digits before or after. It is ideal for columns of monetary amounts, percentages, or numerical results.
• Bar tabulatorIt doesn't place text itself, but a vertical bar in the tab positionThis bar appears directly in the text when you click on the ruler and is printed along with the document if you don't delete that tab first.

To use these tabs, first choose the appropriate type by clicking on the selector until you see the correct symbol. Then, Click on the position on the ruler where you want to insert the tab stopFrom that moment on, when you press the Tab key within that paragraph, the cursor will jump to the marker you have placed.

If you want to delete a tab, simply drag the ruler symbol down, off the barYou can also do it from the tabs dialog box, but using the ruler is usually much more convenient and visual.

Relationship of the Word ruler with other Office applications

Although we're focusing on Word here, you'll also find the idea of ​​the rule in... other programs of Microsoft Officelike PowerPoint. PowerPoint slides also have a horizontal ruler at the top and a vertical ruler on the left, which help you position text boxes, images, and shapes.

In PowerPoint, these rules serve as Visual reference for distributing objects on the slide and maintain similar margins across different slides. Just like in Word, you can choose to show or hide the ruler from the View tab and combine it with gridlines or smart guides for more precise alignment.

Understanding how the ruler works in Word makes things easier later on. to make better use of these layout tools in the rest of the suiteThe concept is the same: a horizontal and vertical measurement scale to locate elements with millimeter precision.

The key is to get used to looking at the ruler while you edit. When you're dragging an object or changing a column width, it's usually easier. stop at specific marks on the ruler Trying to align everything by eye is best, especially if you're going to print the document or presentation later.

Mastering the Word ruler not only helps you align text better, but it also gives you greater control over the complete layout of your documentsThis is very useful if you want your work, reports, or presentations to have a clean, professional, and consistent look on all pages.

Understanding how to activate, hide, and configure both the horizontal and vertical rulers, choose the appropriate units, move indents, and place tabs allows you to work with Word much more smoothly. That combination of Quick adjustments from the ruler and detailed options in the menus It is what makes the difference between an "average" document and a well-designed one that can almost be read by itself.

Related article:

How to make Word maintain the same formatting throughout the document

Isaac

Passionate writer about the world of bytes and technology in general. I love sharing my knowledge through writing, and that's what I'll do on this blog, show you all the most interesting things about gadgets, software, hardware, tech trends, and more. My goal is to help you navigate the digital world in a simple and entertaining way.