How to Use Make It Fit in Word: A Complete Guide

Learn How to Use Make It Fit in Word to adjust tables, text, and documents easily without shrinking your content.

You’ve probably been there: staring at a Microsoft Word document, trying to make a table fit inside the margins, or desperately needing your resume to fit on one page without shrinking the font to unreadable levels. That’s exactly when you start searching for how to use make it fit in Word, and suddenly… all those menus and buttons feel overwhelming. Whether you’re reading a guide on Gadgets & Reviews or exploring productivity tips, knowing the right tricks can save you tons of time.

I’ve been there too. Back in college…  I had a 10-page essay that absolutely had to fit on nine pages for submission. I tried adjusting margins, rewriting paragraphs, and manually dragging text around. Eventually…  I discovered that Word doesn’t have a single magic “Make It Fit” button …  but it does have several powerful tools that can help you achieve the same result.

In this guide…  I’ll break down what “make it fit” really means…  explore the different ways Word can help you, and provide step-by-step instructions for tables…  images…  text boxes, and entire documents.

What “Make It Fit” Actually Means in Word

Before diving into the steps…  let’s clarify something: Word doesn’t have a literal button called Make It Fit. That phrase comes from users because it perfectly describes the goal: adjusting content so it fits neatly on the page.

When people search how to use make it fit in Word…  they usually mean one of these goals:

• Fitting a table neatly within page margins.
• Scaling an image or graphic without distortion.
• Shrinking or expanding text or text boxes to avoid overflow.
• Adjusting the document to fit within a set number of pages.

Each of these scenarios uses slightly different tools in Word…  so it’s important to know which applies to your situation.

How to Make Tables Fit Smoothly

Tables can be a real headache. You paste a wide Excel table into Word, and suddenly part of it spills off the page. Word has a solution: AutoFit.

AutoFit Options

Word can automatically resize tables so they fit perfectly. Here’s how:

1. Click inside your table.

1. Go to Table Tools → Layout → AutoFit.

1. Choose one of the options:

• AutoFit to Contents: Columns expand or shrink to fit the text.
• AutoFit to Window: The table adjusts to the page margins.

Pro Tip: Use AutoFit when pasting tables from Excel. It saves time and avoids manual resizing frustration.

Resizing Images and Shapes Properly

Images…  icons, and shapes can quickly mess up a document if not scaled correctly. The key is to preserve the aspect ratio…  so images don’t look stretched.

Steps to Resize Images Correctly

• Click the image.
• Grab a corner handle (avoid side handles).
• Drag inward or outward while holding Shift to maintain proportions.
• Right-click the image → Wrap Text → choose Tight or Square so text flows neatly around it.

This approach is crucial for keeping visuals clean and professional…  another common goal of how to use make it fit in Word.

Text Boxes: Workarounds for Overflow

Unlike PowerPoint…  Word doesn’t automatically shrink text inside a text box if it overflows. Here’s what to do:

• Shrink text manually: Select the text and reduce the font size.
• Use a table cell instead: Table cells handle overflow better than text boxes.
• Adjust text box margins: Right-click → Format Shape → Text Options → adjust padding.

While not as convenient as AutoFit…  these workarounds are essential for properly handling text boxes in Word.

Fit an Entire Document on Fewer Pages

Sometimes the challenge isn’t a table or image …  it’s the whole document. Whether it’s a resume…  essay, or report…  Word can help you fit content on fewer pages.

Shrink One Page

1. Go to File → Print (Print Preview).
2. Click Shrink One Page.

Word will reduce font size…  spacing, and other elements just enough to move content upward and save a page. You may need to click it multiple times to achieve the perfect balance between readability and page count.

This is one of the most powerful techniques for anyone searching how to use make it fit in Word for entire documents.

Adjusting Margins…  Spacing, and Layout

Manual adjustments are sometimes the most reliable way to fit content neatly. Here’s what I recommend:

Margins

• Go to Layout → Margins.
• Select Narrow or Custom Margins to gain extra space.

Line Spacing

• Select your text.
• Go to Home → Line and Paragraph Spacing.
• Try 1.0 or 1.15 instead of 1.5.

Paragraph Spacing

• Reduce Before/After spacing under the same menu to fit more text without making it look cramped.

These tweaks give you precise control and are key to mastering how to use make it fit in Word.

Time-Saving Tips

Here are a few tricks I wish I knew when I first struggled with fitting content:

• Keyboard Shortcuts: Ctrl + A (select all) → Ctrl + ] or Ctrl + [ to increase/decrease font size quickly.
• Use Styles: Changing the font size in a style updates all text consistently.
• Preview Before Printing: Always check Print Preview to see exactly how your adjustments affect layout.

These tips save time and frustration…  exactly what searchers want when they ask how to use make it fit in Word.

Cheat Sheet for Quick Reference

My Personal Journey With Fitting Content

I’ll be honest: the first time I had to fit a 12-slide report into a 10-page limit…  I panicked. I tried shrinking fonts…  adjusting margins, and even rewriting sentences. Nothing worked.

Then I discovered:

• AutoFit for tables
• Shrink One Page in Print Preview
• Manual margin adjustments

It felt like uncovering hidden features I didn’t even know existed. After that…  formatting documents became less stressful, and I started helping my colleagues with the same tricks.

Every time someone asks how to use make it fit in Word…  I smile …  because I know the combination of tools that can solve almost any layout problem.

FAQs

How do I make a table fit page width?

Use AutoFit → AutoFit to Window in Table Layout.

Can Word shrink text automatically in a text box?

Not exactly …  use manual font adjustments or table cells.

How do I reduce page count without retyping?

Use Shrink One Page in Print Preview.

Is there a universal “Make It Fit” button?

No …  but the combination of AutoFit…  Shrink One Page, and spacing adjustments achieves the same result.

The Key Takings:

• Learning how to use make it fit in Word isn’t about a single button.

• It’s about understanding the tools Word gives you and knowing when to use them.

• Working with tables… 
• Adjusting images… 
• Fixing text boxes… 
• Or shrinking an entire document… 

• Word provides multiple ways to get your content looking professional and fitting perfectly.

• With practice…  patience, and these tips…  you’ll never stress over layout again. Take a breath…  explore the menus, and remember: you’ve got this.

Additional Resources:

1. How to Autofit a Table in Word: Beginner-friendly tutorial explaining AutoFit options to make tables automatically adjust to text or page size.

2. How to Fit Everything on One Page in Word: Guide with practical tips for compressing content, adjusting margins, and spacing to fit a Word document onto a single page.