Label Planet
How to create text-based label designs in Word label templates using basic text.
What Is Basic Text?
Basic text is simply text that you type directly into Word documents, such as label templates, as opposed to using a text box or WordArt.
View our How To video for a step by step guide to working with text (and images) in Word label templates.
How Do I Add Basic Text To Word Label Templates?
Move your cursor to the place where you want to add text, left click once, and start typing!
You can use copy and paste to add text from an external source. Select your text by moving your cursor to the start, hold down the left button on your mouse / press down on the trackpad as you move your cursor to the end, and release. This will highlight your selected text in a different background colour. Use the copy icon or keyboard shortcut (Windows: Ctrl + C // MacOS: ⌘ + C) to copy your text. Move your cursor to the position where you want to add your text and click once. Use the paste icon (under the Home tab in Word) or keyboard shortcut (Ctrl + V // ⌘ + V) to paste your text.
You can repeat this process for each label; however, this is time-consuming and can lead to mistakes. A better option (if you want identical / similar labels) is to add your text to the top left label and use copy and paste to complete your template.
Select the contents of the first label by moving your cursor to the bottom left corner and triple clicking quickly. Alternatively use the highlighting process (described above) to select your text. Use the copy icon / shortcut to copy your text.
You can now paste your text into the rest of your labels individually OR column by column. If there are gaps all the way around your labels, you can’t paste into whole columns because you will add text into the gaps, which can spoil the alignment of your printed template.
If you have gaps between JUST the columns, select an entire column by moving your cursor to the top of the column until a downward facing black arrow appears. Left click once to select the column. Hold down the Ctrl key as you select other columns to highlight multiple columns at once. Alternatively, use the highlighting method to select an entire column.
Your text will be pasted into the highlighted column(s) when you use the paste icon / shortcut.
How Do I Format Basic Text In Word Label Templates?
You can format basic text using the font, paragraph, and styles tools listed under the Home tab in the ribbon at the top of the page. The font tools are the most useful, allowing you to change the font, size, colour, and emphasis of your text (you can also apply some text effects) – the paragraph tool is useful for controlling the alignment and layout of your text in each label.
Remember to select the text that you want to apply formatting options to BEFORE you use the tools listed above. If you don’t, the options you choose will only be applied to the current word that your cursor is sitting in the middle of OR text that you subsequently add to your template.