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Stefan Blom - Charles Kenyon - Suzanne S. Barnhill - Doug Robbins - MVP Office Apps & Services (Word) - Bob Jones AKA: CyberTaz ✅

January 10, 2025

Word Top Contributors:

Stefan Blom - Charles Kenyon - Suzanne S. Barnhill - Doug Robbins - MVP Office Apps & Services (Word) - Bob Jones AKA: CyberTaz ✅

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SimmonsVegas

Word 2013 - table border issues

I have created a table in Word. When trying to add a border to cell, Word applies the border to adjacent cells. For example, I click on a cell, then I click on the "Borders" button in the "Borders" group of the DESIGN tab. I then click on "Bottom Border". Word applies a bottom border to the entire row. I have tried highlighting just the cell first. Same problem. I have tried clicking on "Borders and Shading" under the "Borders" button and then changing "Apply to"" to cell then selecting the bottom border. Same problem.

I have turned on formatting marks to verify that there isn't anything hidden that would be causing this. There isn't. There are no nested tables.

I have never had so many problems with table borders until moving to Office 2013.

Please help.

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Stefan Blom

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I can't reproduce what you describe. If I select a single cell, borders will be applied to that cell only.

When you select a table cell and then display the Borders and Shading dialog box, what is highlighted in the preview picture? If you are changing an existing border format, you may have to click to "turn off" borders that are already present.

Stefan Blom
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Dave DeCoy

I've had the same problem. Here's a workaround that may solve the problem for you: highlight the cells below the ones to which you want to add a bottom border, and add a top border to those cells instead.

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RonBarker

What happens when you apply the borders on the Home Tab?

Microsoft Office Professional 2021
Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019
Microsoft Office Home and Business 2013
Microsoft Office Professional 2003
Windows 10 Professional
HP ProBook 470 G4

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LisaWFormats

I've had this problem too. It's so frustrating! It looks like if I "Apply to" Paragraph rather than Table or Cell in the Borders and Shading menu I'm able to target the specific cell without borders popping up in surrounding cells.

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Stefan Blom

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You must carefully select entire cells or you may inadvertently apply borders to text paragraphs inside cells instead.

As you have noticed, you get more control if you make use of the Borders and Shading dialog box.

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LisaWFormats

Thanks Stefan. Even selecting the cell and choosing "Apply to" cell, I cannot get the border to be contained within the selected cell. Luckily I'm using Word to format a form which I will move to another application to make fillable.

However, while this is my present use, this won't be the only time or reason that I need to use a table in Word so if you have any suggestions on this problem it would be great if you could share. I have never had this problem with any previous version of Word.

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Stefan Blom

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Could you post a screen shot which illustrates what is not working the way you expect it to?

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thepearmark

I have the same issue, it is very frustrating, I tried eveything possible!

Any clues on how to fix this? A screenshot will not help: the point is very simple--applying a border to one cell affects the one to the right. I think this happens if one dicvides a cell in two or more cells.

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Doug Robbins - MVP Office Apps & Services (Word)

If you select the cell and then in the Borders and Shading dialog and select Box and then click on the OK button

you will get

If you just want the border on selected sides, top or bottom of the cell, click on the appropriate edge of the image of the cell in the dialog to apply the border in that position:

If this is not working for you, screenshots of what you are doing and the result WILL help with troubleshooting the issue.

To be able to take screenshots like those above, download SnagIt from www.techsmith.com

Hope this helps,
Doug Robbins - MVP Office Apps & Services (Word)
dougrobbinsmvp@gmail.com
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thepearmark

Hi Doug,

thanks for the reply. Please see a video I made of this issue here: https://youtu.be/vr3XZI-Jwa8

Quality is poor, but you should get a sense of the problem hopefully!

thanks

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Question Info

Last updated December 4, 2024 Views 8,078 Applies to:

Microsoft 365 and Office
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Word
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Windows

Word 2013 - table border issues

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Replies (12)