How do I add text in the body of a document past a text box?

Pat Kelly 20 Reputation points
2026-09-17T20:30:12.6233333+00:00

I created a text box in a document and added the desired text. Then I tried to continue on with my document. However, the text box has an associated Object Anchor that will not let me move the text box. But it will not let me continue past the text box to add additional text outside/after the text box. Please let me know if you need additional information.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows
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AI answer

2026-09-17T20:30:25.1966667+00:00

The anchor itself cannot be removed while the text box is a floating object. Anchors are only a visual indicator of which paragraph the text box is attached to.

To stop the anchor behavior and make the text box behave like regular text:

  1. Select the text box.
  2. Right-click it and open Wrap Text.
  3. Choose In Line with Text.

That makes the text box part of the normal text flow, which removes the movable floating-object behavior.

If the goal is only to hide the anchor:

  1. Go to File > Options > Display.
  2. Clear Object anchors.

If the text box will not let additional text continue after it, that usually means the text box is still floating. Changing it to In Line with Text is the most direct fix.

If the text box needs to stay floating, it can still be moved by selecting its border and dragging it. In Word, floating objects are anchored to a paragraph, and the anchor can be locked, but the anchor itself is not deleted independently.

References:

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  1. Stefan Blom 352.7K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-09-18T07:34:44.5766667+00:00

    If the insertion point is inside a text box, press the ESC key twice to return to the anchor paragraph in the document. To get a clearer view, click the ¶ icon on the Home tab to display nonprinting characters.

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