Working With Text

Inserting Text

If the slide layout includes textboxes, click inside the textbox and type your text. You can edit text in Powerpoint the same way you edit text in Microsoft Word. The text editing tools can be found on the Home tab.

Most layouts will automatically place your text within a bulleted list. The bulleted list format is recommended because it promotes short, informational sentences, which allow for a clear presentation of points.

Text Boxes

To add a new textbox to a slide, follow these steps:

1. Click the Insert tab.
2. Click the Textbox button in the Text group.
   
   

   

3. Click the slide where you want the textbox to appear. An empty textbox will appear with a cursor inside it, and you can begin typing.

Moving a Textbox

To move a textbox, follow these steps:

1. Click inside the textbox to select it.
2. Hold the mouse over the dotted outline until the pointer changes to a if you are using a PC, or a if you are using a Mac.
3. Click and drag the textbox to its new location.

Resizing a Textbox

To resize a textbox, follow these steps:

1. Click inside the textbox to select it. A border with nine handles will appear around the textbox. The circles in the corners allow you to resize both the length and width of the box at once. The squares on the sides allow you to resize the box either horizontally or vertically.
   
2. Click and drag a handle to resize the textbox.

Deleting a Textbox

To delete a textbox, follow these steps:

1. Click the border of the box.
2. Press the Delete key on your keyboard.

Formatting Text

You can format text by highlighting the portion you wish to edit and making changes using the options available on the Home tab. To give your text more visual appeal, you can use the Format Text Effects option from the shortcut menu. To access this feature, right-click on the selected text if you are using a PC or control-click the selected text if you are using a Mac. In the following example, the Texture Fill and Drop Shadow formatting options have been applied.

WordArt

To make your text even more elaborate, you can use WordArt. To insert WordArt, follow these steps:

1. Click the WordArt icon on the Insert tab. The button will expand to show the available WordArt styles.
2. Select the style you want. A textbox will appear on the slide.
3. Click inside the box, and type your text.

You can edit text created with WordArt using the Drawing Tools bar. To access the Drawing Tools bar, follow these steps:

1. Click the text created with WordArt. The Drawing Tools bar will appear on the Ribbon.