Graphics & Images
Word handles two types of visual content — objects you create inside Word, and files you bring in from outside. Knowing the difference, and knowing how to control where they sit on the page, is what makes them look professional.
Symbols & Special Characters
Not every character exists on the keyboard. Word gives you access to the full Unicode character set and a dedicated list of typographic special characters.
| How to insert | Best for |
|---|---|
| Insert → Symbol → Symbol (recently used) | Quick access to symbols you have used before in Word |
| Insert → Symbol → More Symbols… | Full character map — browse by font and Unicode subset. Find ©, ™, °, →, Arabic characters, mathematical symbols, and more. |
| Special Characters tab (inside More Symbols) | Typographic characters: Em Dash —, En Dash –, Non-breaking Space, Optional Hyphen, Copyright ©, Registered ® |
| AutoCorrect shortcut | Many symbols have built-in AutoCorrect triggers: (c) → ©, (r) → ®, -- → — |
Creating Graphics vs Inserting Them
Before inserting anything visual, understand the fundamental difference between content Word creates internally and content brought in from outside.
Word generates and owns these objects. They are fully editable within the application and stored inside the document file.
- Shapes (lines, rectangles, arrows…)
- SmartArt diagrams
- Charts
- WordArt
- Text Boxes
These are image files brought into the document from your device, a website, or a stock library. Word embeds a copy of the file.
- Photos from your device (.jpg, .png…)
- Stock Images (via Word)
- Screenshots
- Icons
Inserting Visual Content
All graphic options are in the Insert tab.
Insert → Pictures → choose This Device, Stock Images, or Online Pictures. After inserting, the Picture Format tab appears.
Insert → Shapes. Choose from lines, basic shapes, arrows, callouts, and more. Click to place or drag to size. Format with Shape Format tab.
Insert → Chart. Choose chart type (Bar, Line, Pie, etc.). Word opens a mini spreadsheet to enter your data. The chart updates live.
Insert → SmartArt. Choose a diagram type: List, Process, Cycle, Hierarchy, Relationship, Matrix, Pyramid. Type text directly in the diagram panes.
Insert → Screenshot. Capture any open window or drag to select a specific area of your screen. Inserts directly into the document.
Insert → Icons (flat SVG icons by category) or 3D Models (rotate and tilt 3D objects). Both require a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Text Wrapping — The Most Important Setting
When you insert a photo, it arrives as Inline with Text — meaning it sits in the text flow like a character. You cannot drag it freely. Changing the wrap style is the first thing you should do after inserting any image.
Arrange: Group, Order, Align, Rotate
Once objects are floating (not inline), you can arrange them precisely. All options are in Picture Format or Shape Format → Arrange group.
Select multiple objects (hold Ctrl and click each) → Arrange → Group. They move, resize, and format as one unit. Ungroup to edit individually.
Bring Forward / Send Backward — move objects in front of or behind others. Bring to Front and Send to Back jump to the very top or bottom of the stack.
Align selected objects relative to each other or to the page: Left, Center, Right, Top, Middle, Bottom. Use Distribute to space them evenly.
Rotate 90° clockwise or counter-clockwise. Flip Horizontal or Vertical. Drag the circular handle above a selected object for free rotation.
Arrange → Selection Pane. Lists every object on the page. Click to select, drag to reorder, click the eye icon to show or hide. Invaluable when objects overlap.
Arrange → Position. Choose a preset position on the page (top-left, center, bottom-right, etc.) with text wrapping applied automatically.
Picture Format & Remove Background
Selecting an inserted image reveals the Picture Format tab — a full set of tools to adjust how the image looks without leaving Word.