Insert page and line breaks in Word for Mac
Command-Return inserts a page break in Word for Mac. Shift-Return inserts a line break; Command-Shift-Return inserts a column break. The correct choice depends on whether you are changing a paragraph, a page or a multi-column layout.
Microsoft Word · Reviewed 2026-11-05 · Review method
Platform, keyboard and verification notes
- Scope
- Microsoft Word · Microsoft Word desktop for Mac; Mac section of Microsoft documentation checked 5 November 2026. Not Word for the web.
- Keyboard and customization
- English documentation and US-style key names. Punctuation and function keys can differ on other layouts.. These are documentation-backed defaults, not a hands-on test. App settings, operating-system shortcuts, extensions and keyboard layout can change what happens. Check focus and the current app menu or shortcut settings when a binding differs.
- Review basis
- Documentation reviewed 2026-11-05 by Codex — source and editorial review; no runtime test. These bindings were not tested in a running app for this guide.
Mac shortcuts for this workflow
| Action | Keys | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Page break | Command-Return | Start the following content on a new page. Source ↗ |
| Line break | Shift-Return | Move to another line within the paragraph. Source ↗ |
| Column break | Command-Shift-Return | Advance within an applicable multi-column layout. Source ↗ |
| Undo | Command-Z | Remove a break inserted in the wrong context. Source ↗ |
Choose the layout boundary you actually need
A page break is useful before a section that should begin on the next page. A line break keeps content within one paragraph. A column break belongs to a multi-column layout. Treating these as interchangeable can cause confusing movement later when text is added, page size changes or a different style is applied.
Avoid filling a page with empty paragraphs
Repeated Returns may push a heading onto the next page temporarily, but the arrangement can collapse when earlier text changes. An intentional page break states the layout decision directly. If a paragraph has rules such as keeping lines together or beginning on a new page, inspect those settings too before adding another manual break.
Inspect both sides of the break
Practice in a short disposable document with a heading and two paragraphs. Insert one kind of break and examine where the next text starts, then undo and compare another kind. Use Word’s visible formatting-mark controls when needed to understand the document structure. A visual gap alone is not reliable evidence of which break or paragraph rule created it.
Sources and corrections
- Keyboard shortcuts in Word — Microsoft Support, Mac section — checked 2026-11-05
Found a mismatch? Email pashaseenainc@gmail.com with your app version, macOS version, keyboard layout and the command. Please leave personal document names out.
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