How to Select Columns, Rows and Cells of a Word Table

You may notice a strange icon that appears in the upper left corner of your table that looks like a 4-sided arrow. This icon is called the Table Selection Handle. And just as the name implies, if you click this icon, the entire table will be selected. You'll know that the table is selected when it is highlighted in black.

You can also select a table by clicking Table on the menu bar, then Select, then Table.

You can also use the Table Selection Handle to move an entire table. Just click the handle and drag it to your desired location.

To select a column, hover your mouse over the top of the column until the mouse pointer turns into a small black down arrow. Then click to select the column.

To select multiple columns that are next to each other, select one column and then drag left or right to select more columns.

To select columns that are NOT next to each other, select one column, then hold down the CTRL key while selecting more columns.

You'll know a column is selected when it is highlighted in black.

To select a row, hover your mouse to the left of the row until the mouse pointer turns into a large white arrow. Then click to select the row.

To select multiple rows that are next to each other, select one row, then drag up or down to select more rows.

To select multiple rows that are NOT next to each other, select one row, then hold down the CTRL key while selecting more rows.

You'll know that a row is selected when it is highlighted in black.

To select a cell, hover your mouse to the left side of the cell until your mouse pointer turns into a small black arrow. Then click to select the cell.

To select multiple cells that are next to each other, select one cell and then drag left, right, up or down to select more cells.

To select multiple cells that are NOT next to each other, select one cell, then hold down the CTRL key while selecting more cells.

You'll know a cell is selected when it is highlighted in black.

Knowing how to properly select portions of a table helps immensely when inserting and deleting rows or columns, adding borders or shading, changing font, text color, etc. Now that you have learned the proper techniques for selectings rows, columns, cells and the entire table, it should make formatting your table much easier.