How to Remove an Unwanted Blank Page in Word 2021

Why does Word create a blank page in the first place?

There are various reasons why Word may generate a blank page. One common cause is accidental keystrokes or mouse clicks that insert an extra page. Additionally, formatting issues, such as incorrect page breaks or section breaks, can also lead to the creation of unwanted blank pages.

How can I determine if my document contains an extra blank page?

To check if your document has an extra blank page, you can enable the Show/Hide feature in Word. Click on the “Home” tab, then locate and click on the ¶ symbol in the Paragraph section. This will display hidden formatting marks, including paragraph marks, page breaks, and section breaks. If you notice an empty page marked with a paragraph symbol (¶), that is likely the unwanted blank page.

How do I remove the unwanted blank page?

There are several methods you can try to eliminate the unwanted blank page from your Word document. Here are three common approaches:

1. Backspace/Delete Method: Position your cursor at the end of the content on the page before the blank page. Press the Backspace or Delete key until the unwanted page disappears. Keep in mind that this method may not work if you inadvertently inserted a manual page break or section break.

2. Remove Manual Page Breaks: To delete a manual page break, locate it by using the Show/Hide feature mentioned earlier. Click on the manual page break and press the Delete key. This will remove the break and merge the content from the two adjacent pages.

3. Adjust Page Breaks: If the unwanted page is caused by incorrect automatic page breaks, you can modify them by going to the “Layout” tab. Click on the “Breaks” button and select “Next Page” or “Continuous” to adjust the pagination. This way, you can force Word to reposition the content and eliminate the blank page.

What should I do if none of the above methods work?

If you’ve tried the suggested methods and the blank page persists, double-check the formatting of your document. Ensure that you don’t have any large empty paragraphs or hidden objects on the problem page. Try selecting the entire blank page and adjusting the font size to a smaller value or changing the line spacing to see if it affects the page’s visibility. If all else fails, you can consider copying the content to a new document and starting fresh.

In conclusion, dealing with an unwanted blank page in Word 2021 can be frustrating, but with the right knowledge and techniques, it can be resolved. By following the answers to these frequently asked questions, you can effortlessly remove those annoying blank pages and achieve a polished and professional-looking document.