By Alex 
how to delete a page in word Microsoft Word is one of the most widely used word processing applications, but even seasoned users can sometimes find themselves stuck when trying to perform simple tasks, like deleting a page. Whether you’re dealing with a blank page or one filled with text, removing unwanted pages in Word can sometimes be tricky, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the tool’s formatting options.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps of how to delete a page in Word, whether it’s blank, contains text, or is the result of extra spacing or formatting issues.
1. Deleting a Blank Page
Step 1: Turn on Paragraph Marks
The first step in troubleshooting blank pages in Word is to turn on paragraph marks, which will help you identify what’s causing the extra space. To do this:
- Go to the Home tab in the toolbar.
- Click on the ¶ symbol (also known as the Show/Hide button) in the Paragraph section.
This will reveal all the hidden formatting marks on your document, such as paragraph breaks, spaces, and page breaks.
Step 2: Locate the Blank Page
Scroll through your document and find the blank page. Once you’ve enabled the paragraph marks, you might see symbols or empty paragraphs causing the extra page.
Step 3: Select and Delete
Once you’ve located the hidden characters, select them with your mouse or trackpad. Simply press the Delete or Backspace key on your keyboard to remove them.
If the blank page was caused by these extra spaces or paragraph marks, this should eliminate the page from your document.
Step 4: Check for Section Breaks or Page Breaks
If deleting spaces doesn’t work, the issue may be related to a manual page break or section break. Look for lines that say “Page Break” or “Section Break.” Highlight these and press Delete to remove them.
Note: Removing section breaks can alter your document’s formatting, especially if you’re working with different headers, footers, or page orientations for different sections.
2. Deleting a Page That Contains Text
Step 1: Highlight the Text
To delete a page that contains text, the process is straightforward. Scroll to the page you wish to delete. Highlight all the text on that page using your mouse or pressing Ctrl + A (Windows) or Cmd + A (Mac) to select the entire page.
Step 2: Press Delete or Backspace
Once the text is highlighted, simply press the Delete or Backspace key. This will remove the content on the page, and if there is no remaining content or page break, the page will automatically disappear.
3. Deleting the Last Page of a Document
Step 1: Check for Hidden Formatting Marks
If you find an extra blank page at the end of your document, it’s most likely caused by hidden formatting marks. Enable the paragraph marks by clicking the ¶ button in the Home tab to reveal any lingering breaks or spaces.
Step 2: Select and Remove Extra Paragraphs or Breaks
Once you see the paragraph marks or section breaks causing the extra page, highlight and delete them.
If the extra page persists, check for a manual page break and remove it by selecting it and pressing Delete.
4. Using the Navigation Pane for Easier Page Management
If you’re working with a longer document and need to delete specific pages without scrolling manually, using Word’s Navigation Pane can help.
Step 1: Open the Navigation Pane
- Go to the View tab.
- Check the box next to Navigation Pane to open it on the left side of the screen.
Step 2: Navigate to the Desired Page
In the Navigation Pane, click on the Pages tab. This will show you a thumbnail view of each page in your document.
Step 3: Select and Delete
Click on the page you wish to delete to navigate to it in your document. Once there, highlight the text or formatting marks on the page and press Delete to remove it.
5. Deleting a Page Caused by a Table
Sometimes, tables in Word can generate an extra blank page, especially if the table is positioned near the bottom of a page. This often happens because tables have a default space after them, which can push content onto the next page.
Step 1: Adjust the Table Position
Click on the table and check its placement on the page. You might need to reduce the spacing after the table:
- Right-click on the table and choose Table Properties.
- In the Table Properties window, reduce the spacing or margins around the table.
Step 2: Delete Extra Paragraph Marks
Check if there are any extra paragraph marks below the table that could be causing the page to spill over. Delete these by selecting and pressing Delete.
6. Reducing the Size of Margins
If your document contains an extra page due to content spilling over from the previous page, adjusting the margins can help eliminate the unwanted page.
Step 1: Adjust Margins
- Go to the Layout tab.
- Click on Margins and choose Narrow or Custom Margins to reduce the margin size.
This slight adjustment can help keep content on the previous page, thereby eliminating the extra page.
Conclusion
how to delete a page in word Deleting a page in Microsoft Word can be as simple as removing text or as complicated as adjusting formatting settings or dealing with hidden paragraph marks. The key is understanding the underlying cause of the extra page—whether it’s blank, filled with content, or caused by a table or margin issues.
By following the steps in this guide, you should be able to delete any unwanted page in your Word document with ease.