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I want to do a two-column layout in Microsoft Word, but instead of the second column being written as a continuation of the first, I want the two columns to be written separately just like they were two different pages.

How would you go about doing this in Word 2010?

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3 Answers

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Another easy way to do what you describe is to use a table. Turn the borders off and you'll get two columns that are independent of each other.

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This does the columns right, just takes some fiddling if you want to do much formatting of the text. Next time I have to do this I'll be using this method, though I may do cut and past to not have to fiddle with the formatting. Thanks. – Lance Roberts Jan 13 at 0:11
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Honestly... You're getting more into page-layout than document creation. Word does a better job of doing document creation than it does with page layout. Publisher is much better at page-layouts. You can accomplish the same task in Word... but it appears slightly different than you would expect.

Under the "Page Layout" tab... go to Margins -> Custom Margins (at the bottom of the list), and then near the middle of the dialog, there should be a "Multiple Pages:" drop-down-box with "2 Pages per sheet". Also set the page-layout to Landscape. On the screen while editing, it would appear like you're working on 1 skinny page... and as you add content... what appears to be the 2nd page will actually be printed on the second half on the 1st printed-page.

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If you're trying to make a booklet... you can also use the book-fold option which will automatically adjust the page ordering so that a 4-page document will be printed as: page 1 will be on the back-right-side 2 on front left... 3 on front-right and 4 on the back left, so that when you fold the page in 1/2 ... it is properly ordered. – TheCompWiz Jan 12 at 17:46
Thanks, I'll give it a try. – Lance Roberts Jan 12 at 19:17
I was able to get that to work, though it does take some manipulation. – Lance Roberts Jan 13 at 0:07
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up vote 3 down vote

Using a column break is the easiest way that fits within the structure Word gives you to work with columns.

In the Page Layout tab, after you've set up the desired number of columns, in the Page Setup section, click the Breaks dropdown and select the Column break command.

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That works good for just one page, but if you continue the first column, it bumps the 2nd to the next page (i.e. where it would be the continuation of the first). – Lance Roberts Jan 13 at 0:10
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