I can't delete an unwanted blank page in a Word 2013 document!

Anonymous
2013-03-24T03:07:14+00:00

I have a document in Word 2013 which is supposed to be one page. Word added a blank page after the first page. I can just print the first page by selecting page one as the only one to print in the printer setup page. However, I got the one wanted page and the one unwanted blank page when I printed out a test sample of the form type document. I printed out the chosen number of the wanted page after I noticed the blank page and reset the printer setup page for the first page only. However to make sure I don't, in the future, accidentally print out numerous unwanted blank pages with the previous stated, or other, wanted documents, I need to know how to remove unwanted blank pages. The stated wanted page ended with a table. I've taken that into consideration in seeking a remedy. I have looked all over the forums and in two books on Word; but, I can't find any remedy that will actually remove the unwanted blank page. I have tried show/hide, delete, backspace, control + end, and a bit of profanity etc. Nothing works. I converted it from a Word (.docx) document to a .pdf in Acrobat XI pro, and then was able to easily delete the unwanted blank page. But, then the fonts didn't look right. So, I would like to find a certain battle plan that will always destroy completely any unwanted blank pages in Word 2013 that I choose to get rid of...

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
2016-06-16T00:54:45+00:00

Hi everyone,

We updated and improved our articles about this issue on support.office.com, and wanted to let you know.

The updates include invaluable suggestions from MVP Suzanne S. Barnhill that many of you have found so helpful, along with great new information for getting past this frustrating problem quickly. Take a look!

Best,

-Erik

Was this answer helpful?

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2013-03-24T06:38:06+00:00

Without seeing the document it is impossible to know what the problem is, but the most likely explanation is that the previous page is full and the paragraph break at the end forces the page break. You can display and select that paragraph break and format it as 1 point and that may make sufficient space to remove the extra page - or you can add the Print Preview Edit Mode button to the QAT (Quick Access Toolbar) and click that. From the Print Preview ribbon click 'Shrink One Page'.

Was this answer helpful?

0 comments

151 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2014-02-12T06:12:13+00:00

    Thank you.  This worked.  Shame on Microsoft.  It shouldn't have taken Karrie to fix it.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2014-02-12T07:33:19+00:00

    I don't follow the logic of your attributing blame on Microsoft.  The effect of doing what Karrie suggested is to reduce the top margin of the document.  That may or may not have undesirable consequences.  What's more, Microsoft incorporated the facility to adjust the margins.  So what's there to be ashamed of?

    It is quite likely that the reason for the blank second page was the presence of empty paragraphs after the last of the text in the document, which is covered in the article at http://wordfaqs.mvps.org/BlankPage.htm which is the link given by Stefan Blom.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments