Skipping page numbers in a Word document can seem tricky, but it’s a useful skill to master, especially if you’re working on a report or a thesis. The process involves breaking your document into sections and then un-linking those sections so that you can skip numbering on specific pages. It’s simpler than it sounds, I promise. By the end of this quick overview, you’ll have a clear idea of how to skip page numbers in Word like a pro.
Before diving into the steps, let’s understand why you might want to skip page numbers. Sometimes, you don’t want the first page or a section page to have a number. Other times, you might have an appendix or a reference section where the numbering needs to be different. Whatever the reason, these steps will help you achieve that.
Open the Word document where you want to skip the page numbers.
In this step, ensure that you have your document fully prepared. It’s easier to adjust page numbers on a finished document than to try and do it as you go.
Place your cursor at the end of the page before the one you want to skip and go to ‘Layout’ then ‘Breaks’ and choose ‘Next Page’ under ‘Section Breaks’.
Creating a section break is critical because it allows you to manipulate the page numbers in each section independently.
Double-click the footer on the page where you want to skip the number. Then click on ‘Link to Previous’ to turn off the linking feature.
Unlinking sections allows you to make changes to the page numbers without affecting the rest of the document.
While still in the footer, select the page number and delete it.
After unlinking, the page number should be easy to remove. Simply click on it and press the delete key.
If the skipped page disrupts the numbering sequence, you may need to adjust the starting number of the following section.
This step is optional and will depend on how you want the subsequent pages to be numbered. If you need them to follow a particular sequence, this is where you make that adjustment.
After you’ve completed these steps, your document will have the desired pages without numbers. It’ll look professional and organized, exactly what you want in a formal document.
Go to the footer of the first page of the new section, click ‘Page Number’, select ‘Format Page Numbers’, and then set ‘Start at’ to ‘1’.
Yes, you just have to create separate sections for each and unlink them as explained in the steps.
A section break allows for changes in formatting within the same document, while a page break simply moves text to the next page without changing formatting.
Absolutely, just create a section break before and after the pages you want to skip, then remove the numbers.
It shouldn’t affect your table of contents as long as it’s set up to read the section breaks properly.
Skipping page numbers in Word is a handy skill that can make your documents look much more professional. Whether you’re writing a book and you need to skip numbering on the introductory pages, or you’re putting together a business report that requires certain sections without page numbers, following the steps outlined above will get the job done efficiently. Remember to use section breaks, unlink the sections, and double-check your work in Print Preview. By mastering this simple technique, you can ensure your documents always meet the standards of professionalism and clarity that you strive for. And don’t forget, practice makes perfect! So, go ahead and give it a try – you’ll be skipping page numbers like a seasoned pro in no time.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.