Looking to align text with a curve, circle, or wave perhaps? Find out here how to curve text along an arc in Word (on both Windows and Mac) flexibly and with full formatting control.
First, Claude Monet in Discussions with His Neighbors
Having lived some ten years in Giverny, the small town not that far down the river Seine from Paris that he was to make famous, painter Claude Monet was no stranger to his neighbors.
When he voiced plans to divert waters from the river Epte to turn a small pond across the road into a Japanese-style water garden with non-native plants, they still protested. Who could say, after all, what kind of dangerously poisonous pest these plants would turn out to be?
They eventually let Monet be, though, and you know the result, of course, from numerous paintings—including the now-famous Japanese bridge with its elegant curve.
Now, how about adding elegant curves to text in Word? I better go ask the neighbors first, but here’s how to do it:
How to Curve Text Along an Arc in Word (in Word for Windows and Mac)
Time needed: 7 minutes
To align text along a curve or circle in Microsoft Word for Windows and Word for Mac:
- Go to the Insert tab on the Word ribbon.
Where to insert curved text: it does not matter much where you add the curved text right now; you can move it freely later.
- Click Insert WordArt in the Text section.
No “Insert WordArt”: If you do not see Insert WordArt, click Text first.
- Select the initial formatting for the text outline you prefer.
Select without too much deliberation: Again, you can—and probably will—change the formatting to your liking later.
- Type the text you want to curve over Your text here.
- Go to the Shape Format tab on the ribbon.
- Select Text Effects in the WordArt Styles section.
- Choose Transform from the menu and pick a style under Follow Path.
Wavy text: see below for creating wavy text without too much fuss.
- Click the outline of the WordArt object.
- Use the handles to change the size and slant of the curve or circle as well as the slant of the text.
- Change the text formatting as desired using the Shape Format tab on the ribbon and WordArt Styles in particular.
Shadow: You can add shadows, for example, glow and reflection.
And in Paint 3D? How to Curve Text in Paint 3D
How to Create a Wavy Curve of Text in Word
To insert a wave of curved text using Word for Windows:
- Insert one piece of WordArt with a text transformation of Warp | Wave: Down.
Other curves and waves: You can also pick Wave: Up or a Double Wave style, of course. - Format the first part of the wave as desired.
Text: You can enter the final text or first work on the formatting. - Highlight the WordArt object.
- Press Ctrl C (Windows) or Command C (Mac) to copy the whole object.
- Now press Ctrl V (Windows) or Command V (Mac) to paste the object.
Longer waves: For more ups and downs, you can paste the object multiple times right away. - Move the parts of the wave to align them as desired.
Align: You can select multiple objects using the mouse and use the Align tool on the ribbon’s Layout tab to align them along a horizontal line; usually, it is best to go by eye, though.
For more complex shapes, you can also combine simple shapes, of course. At some point, laying out the text in software built for that job will be simpler and faster, though.
How to Curve Text Along an Arc in Word: FAQ
Can I change the font used for the curved text?
Yes.
To change the typeface used for the text you have aligned along the curve:
- Click in the WordArt object.
- Press Ctrl A (Windows) or Command A (Mac) to select all text in the object.
- Choose the typeface (and text formatting) from the formatting toolbar that has appeared.
Mac: In Word for Mac, go to the Home ribbon to pick the font and basic text formatting.
Can I curve text in Word Online (at Office.com)
No.
While you can see a preview of curved text in Word online at Office.com and can change the object’s size, you cannot create curved text or change its formatting.
Can I curve text in Word for iOS and Android?
No.
While you can see curved text in Word documents just fine, Word for Android and Word for iPhone only let you add basic WordArt styles, not transform text to align it along a path.
(How to curve text along an arc in Word tested with Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows Version 2111 and Word for Mac 16.54; updated April 2024)