Last Page (blank) won't delete

Anonymous
2010-03-21T18:34:09+00:00

Hi! I inserted a table that lasted exactly two pages. However, at the end of the document (now on page 3), I cannot get the cursor to move back when I hit backspace. The cursor is outside of the table at this point. So I have a new page (page 3) that is blank, which I am trying to make go away.

I hope this does not sound confusing!

Thanks in advanced for any assistance.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2010-03-21T21:14:02+00:00

Hi JC555,

You cannot delete the final paragraph marker after a table. If it just so happens that the paragraph marker slips on to the next page, then there is a little trick that I learned eons ago.

You'll need the Show/Hide characters switched on to do this:

If you don't have them switched on already, click the Show/Hide button in the toolbar on the Home tab (it's the one with the symbol in it) to display your document formatting, then:.

  1. Select the final paragraph marker
  2. Right click on it and choose Paragraph... from the pop-up menu
  3. Under the Spacing category, make sure you have 0 in Before: and After:
  4. Click OK if you made any changes to the Spacing
  5. With the paragraph marker still selected: click on the little arrow in the Font Size button in the Font category and type 1 (you won't find it to select in the list)

    >>> This will ensure that the font is the smallest size possible. With a bit of luck it will make the rogue paragraph marker jump on to the preceding page.

>>> Is this response helpful? If so, please consider clicking the green Vote As Helpful button for the benefit of future visitors with the same question.

All the best,

Sharon

Sharon Roffey

Queensland, Australia

Was this answer helpful?

300+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2012-08-07T23:31:22+00:00

Hi Mike,

It *is* a proper fix or, better put, there is no fix ... the last paragraph marker simply cannot be deleted. Not ever. It contains all the formatting information on the preceding text.

In fact, it would be chaos if you could delete it! I guess it's just bad luck when it falls all on its lonesome on to the next page after a table.

Was this answer helpful?

40+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

50 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2012-11-13T02:27:09+00:00

    my other sollution to this issue was to print the page to PDF, print all pages except the last page, then save the document in PDF, then convert it back to editable text, pain in the butt that way though, i like your solution better!

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2010-03-29T15:22:46+00:00

    GREAT, GREAT, GREAT!  Thank you!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2010-03-22T02:00:46+00:00

    Awesome!! It worked! Thanks so much!!

    I was going crazy wondering why I couldn't get rid of the page and why the cursor wouldn't go back.

    JC

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments