Positioning Graphics Evenly

Sometimes you may need to position graphics evenly within a document. For instance, you may have four small graphics that will appear next to each other. You may want to make sure that the graphics are an equal distance from each other. To do this easily, follow these steps:

1. Using the mouse, roughly position the graphics where you want them to appear. You should make sure that the left-most graphic is where you want it, as is the right-most graphic.
2. Select all four graphics.
3. Make sure the Drawing toolbar is displayed if you are using a version of Word prior to Word 2007.
4. Click on the Draw option on the Drawing toolbar, and then choose Align or Distribute. (In Word 2007, display the Format tab of the ribbon and click Align in the Arrange group.)
5. Choose Distribute Horizontally from the resulting submenu. Word positions the two inside graphics so that all four graphics are an equal distance from each other.

Depending on your version of Word, not all graphic objects can be aligned in this manner. The reason for this is not entirely clear; one would think that it would be relatively easy to adjust the distribution of graphic elements regardless of their type. But if the objects are not "alignable," the Distribute Horizontally option is grayed out.