How to add line numbers to reports and technical documents

9 June 2009, 5:32 pm

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.

Microsoft Word can automatically count the lines in a document and display the appropriate number beside each line of text. This is useful if you need to refer to specific lines in a document, such as a script or legal contract.
By default, Word numbers every line in a document. 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).

How to add line numbers

To add line numbers to an entire document:

On the File menu, click Page Setup, and then click the Layout tab.
In the Apply to box, click Whole document.
Click Line Numbers.
Select the Add line numbering check box, and then select the options you want.

How to add line numbers to a selection of text:

Select the text you want to number.
On the File menu, click Page Setup, and then click the Layout tab.
In the Apply to box, click Selected text.
Click Line Numbers.
Select the Add line numbering check box, and then select the options you want.

To skip line numbers for specific paragraphs

Select the paragraphs for which you want to skip line numbers.
On the Format menu, click Paragraph, and then click the Line and Page Breaks tab.
Select the Suppress line numbers check box.