How can I remove the blank page after section break?

Anonymous
2010-09-01T15:46:18+00:00

Don't want blank page between different sections in draft document ("next page" section breaks). Tried hiding and tried changing paragraph symbol font size to 1. Still getting blank page. UGH!

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Stefan Blom 353K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2010-09-01T18:04:14+00:00

Under certain circumstances, the section break, or actually the blank paragraph containing the section break, may cause an extra page (this might happen below a table, for example). Formatting it as 1 pt font size, exact line spacing 1 pt, zero spacing before/after should fix it. You may also want to format it as hidden text. In fact, you can create a paragraph style with those characteristics and apply it to the empty paragraph in question.

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Anonymous
2012-08-18T08:09:57+00:00

Don't want blank page between different sections in draft document ("next page" section breaks). Tried hiding and tried changing paragraph symbol font size to 1. Still getting blank page. UGH!

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Stefan Blom 353K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2010-12-31T18:46:25+00:00

The workaround you have found is documented in the article at http://word.mvps.org/faqs/formatting/WorkWithSections.htm.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-05-01T11:16:23+00:00

    GlobalRoamer

    I'm sure there is a simple explanation for what you are seeing in your document but without giving us a look at it we can only guess as to what the problem is.

    Is the Section Break a continuous section break?

    Are there floating objects on the page?

    Are there floating objects in the header or footer?

    Is there paragraph spacing applied to either the section break or the following paragraph?

    Are you showing invisible formatting like paragraph marks?

    If the content should be following the preceding text, why is the section break even needed there?

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  2. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2014-05-01T03:21:08+00:00

    With the selection in the "rest of the document", i.e after the Section Break,  click on the dialog launcher in the Page Setup section of the Page Layout tab of the ribbon and in the Page Setup dialog, go to the Layout tab and check the setting for the Page>Vertical alignment.  It sounds like it might be set to something other than Top.

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