How To

Add Line Numbers to Part or All of Word Documents

Posted on by Jeeves

MS Word can automatically count the lines in a document and display the appropriate number next to each line of text. This is useful if you need to refer to specific lines in a document, such as a legal contract. By default, Word numbers every line in a document (except those in tables, footnotes, endnotes, text boxes, frames, and headers and footers).

However, you can choose which line numbers to display. For example, include line numbers in all or part of the document. Or include line numbers at intervals, such as every tenth line (10, 20, 30, and so on).

Word 365 – Add line numbers to an entire document

You can add line numbers to all or part of a document. To view line numbers, you must be in Print Layout view (click the View tab to check).

On the Layout tab, Page Setup group, click Line Numbers.

Do one of the following:

  • To number consecutively throughout the document, click Continuous.
  • To start with number 1 on each page, click Restart Each Page.
  • To start with number 1 after each section break, click Restart Each Section.
  • For more advanced line numbering options, such as numbering at different intervals, click Line Numbering Options, and then click Line Numbers on the Layout tab.

Word 2010 – Add Line Numbers to Entire Document

In previous versions of Word, to add line numbers to an entire document:

  1. On the File menu, click Page Setup, and then click the Layout tab.
  2. In the Apply to box, click Whole document.
    about-line-numbers-1-4.JPG
  3. Click Line Numbers.
  4. Select the Add line numbering check box, and then select the options you want.
    about-line-numbers-2-4.JPG

Add Line Numbers to Part of Text 

How to add line numbers to a selection of text:

  1. Select the text you want to number.
  2. On the File menu, click Page Setup, and then click the Layout tab.
  3. In the Apply to box, click Selected text.
  4. Click Line Numbers.
  5. Select the Add line numbering check box, and then select the options you want.
    about-line-numbers-3-4.JPG

Skip Line Numbers

To skip line numbers for specific paragraphs

  1. Select the paragraphs for which you want to skip line numbers.
  2. On the Format menu, click Paragraph, and then click the Line and Page Breaks tab.
  3. Select the Suppress line numbers check box.
    about-line-numbers-4-4.JPG

Summary

If you don’t want Word to count specific lines, such as a heading or a blank line, you can skip line numbers for these items and continue numbering the following lines.

You can make it easier for people to find information in your Word document by adding lines. These run down the left hand side of the page. Instead of saying something is on page 5, paragraph 3, just tell them the line it’s on.

Jeeves