Applies To
Excel for Microsoft 365 Word for Microsoft 365 Outlook for Microsoft 365 PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 Excel for Microsoft 365 for Mac Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac Outlook for Microsoft 365 for Mac PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 for Mac Excel 2024 Outlook 2024 PowerPoint 2024 Excel 2024 for Mac Outlook 2024 for Mac PowerPoint 2024 for Mac Excel 2021 Outlook 2021 PowerPoint 2021 Excel 2021 for Mac Outlook 2021 for Mac PowerPoint 2021 for Mac

WordArt is a quick way to make text stand out with special effects. You begin by picking a WordArt style from the WordArt gallery on the Insert tab, and then customize the text as you wish.

Important: In Word and Outlook, you must first anchor multiple objects before selecting them. Select one object. Next, press and hold Ctrl while you select more objects.

An example of WordArt that says "Happy Birthday" that is curved text.
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  1. On the Insert tab, select  Text button WordArt in the Text group and pick the WordArt style you want.

    Choosing a WordArt option

    In the WordArt gallery, the letter A represents the different designs that are applied to all text you type.

  2. The placeholder text "Your text here" appears, with the text highlighted.

    WordArt placeholder text

    Enter your own text to replace the placeholder text.

    WordArt with custom text

Tips: 

  • You can enter entire sentences, and even paragraphs, as WordArt. (You may have to change the font size for longer text.) And in Word, you can also convert existing text to WordArt in Word.

  • You can include symbols as WordArt text. Click the location for the symbol, and on the Insert tab, select Symbol, and pick the symbol you want.

Do more things with WordArt

Select a heading below to open it and see the detailed instructions.

You might have tried using shape styles to change the shape of WordArt and then were puzzled that the text didn't change. Use the text options in the WordArt Styles group instead. Shape styles and effects apply to the box and background surrounding your WordArt, not to the WordArt text. To add effects to your WordArt, such as shadows, rotation, curves, and colors, you use the options in the WordArt Styles group, including Text Fill, Text Outline, and Text Effects.

WordArt Styles group

Note: Depending on your screen size, you might only see the icons for WordArt Styles.

WordArt Styles group showing icons only

  1. Select the WordArt text or letters to change.

  2. On the Shape Format tab, select Text Fill or Text Outline, and pick the color you want.

    Choosing a text fill color
  3. Select a point outside of your text box to see the effect.

    In this example, a light blue text fill and a red text outline were applied.

    WordArt with text fill and outline color applied

You can curve text around a circular object.

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90 seconds

  1. Select the WordArt text or letters to change.

  2. On the Shape Format tab, select  Text effects button Text Effects. choose Transform and pick the one you want.

    Important: If you don't see Transform at the bottom of the menu, make sure you selected Text Effects.

    In this example, the first curved transform effect is selected.

    Selecting a curved transform text effect
  3. Click outside of your text box to see the effect.

    Use the Text Effects menu to create other effects, such as shadow, reflection, glow, bevels, and 3-D rotation. This example shows WordArt with a curved transform effect and a shadow applied.

    WordArt with curved transform effect and a shadow applied

  • To rotate WordArt text to any angle, select it and then drag the Rotation handle icon. rotation handle at the top of the box.

    Rotating WordArt with the rotation handle
  • To flip WordArt or rotate it 90 degrees, on the Shape Format tab, select  Rotate objects button Rotate in the Arrange group, and then choose an option.

    Screenshot of rotate object options.

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To change the font size or style of your WordArt text:

  1. Select the WordArt text or letters to change.

  2. On the Home tab, select options in the Font group, such as font style, font size, or underline.

  1. In your Word document, select the text to convert to WordArt.

  2. On the Insert tab, select  Text button WordArt and then pick the look you want.

    Choosing a WordArt option

Double-click the WordArt to remove, and press Delete.

Want more?

Add shapes

Customize or create new styles

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