How to duplicate or flip text in Microsoft Word

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If you’re getting creative in Microsoft Word with something like a sign, ad, or brochure, you might want to do something unique with your text. You can mirror the text to be mirrored or flip the text upside down.

While you can’t manipulate a text string in your normal way to duplicate or flip, you can use text boxes instead. This also gives you the freedom to place the text where you want to get the right look.

Add a text box in Word

You can add a text box in Word in just a couple of simple steps. Open your document, select a page where you want the text box, then go to the Insert tab.

RELATED: How to create and format a text box in Microsoft Word

Open the Text Box dropdown menu in the Text section of the ribbon and choose “Draw Text Box”. You’ll notice that you can also use one of the premade text boxes in the menu. If you want one that has a bit of formatting or color, you can choose one of these instead and it will appear right in your document.

Draw text box in the Text menu on the Insert tab

To draw the text box, click and drag to the size you want when the cursor changes to a cross symbol. You can also resize it after drawing it by dragging a corner or edge.

Drag to draw a text box

Then just insert your text into the box.

Text inserted in a text box

Mirror text in Word

Once you have the text in your box that you want to reflect, right click on the text box and select “Format Shape”.

Format Shape in context menu

When the sidebar opens, select “Text Options” at the top, then open Text Effects.

Text options and text effects in the sidebar

Select the text inside the box, and then expand the Reflection section in the sidebar.

Selected text and Reflect section in sidebar

Use the Presets dropdown menu to choose the type of reflection you want. You will see different options for narrow, medium and full reflection. Regardless of which one you choose, you can customize the appearance.

Reflection presets

Then use the Transparency, Size, Blur, and Distance settings to reflect the text exactly how you want it.

reflection settings

If you make adjustments to the text, such as color, style, or formatting, the mirrored text updates automatically.

Reflected text in a text box

When you’re done, you can close the sidebar by using the X in the top right.

If you want, you can also format the text box to accommodate your text. Select the box, go to the Format Shape tab, and use the tools on the ribbon to remove the border, add a style, or align the text, depending on how you want the text box to appear.

Mirrored text in a text box without a border

RELATED: How to remove borders in Microsoft Word

Flip text in Word

If you want to flip the text in your Word document, you can do it once you add your text box. Select the text box to display the rotation handle (circular arrow at the top).

Rotation handler for a text box in Word

Then drag the rotation handle left or right until the text box is upside down along with the text it contains.

Upside down text in Word

As with mirroring text above, you can select the text box and use the tools on the Format Shape tab to make changes to the box’s appearance.

When you want to do something different with the text in your Word document and think duplicating or flipping it is what you need, it only takes a few minutes.

For more information, see how to link text boxes or how to put a border around text in Word.

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