Creating a Text Box

Usually you use the title, subtitle , and bulleted list placeholders to place text on a slide. However, when you want to add text outside one of the standard placeholders, you can create a text box. Your text box doesn't have to be rectangular ”you can also use one of PowerPoint's AutoShapes , a collection of shapes that range from rectangles and circles to arrows and stars. When you place text in an AutoShape, the text becomes part of the AutoShape. Text boxes appear in the Slide pane of Normal view or in Slide Sorter view, but not in the Outline pane.

Create a Text Box

In Normal view, click the View menu, point to Toolbars, and then click Drawing to display the Drawing toolbar, if necessary.

Click the Text Box button on the Drawing toolbar.

To add text that wraps, drag to lengthen the box, and then start typing.

To add text that doesn't wrap, click and then start typing.

Click outside the text box to deselect it.

Add Text to an AutoShape

Select the AutoShape to which you want to add text.

Type the text.

Did You Know?

You can wrap text in an AutoShape or resize it . Right-click the AutoShape, click Format AutoShape, click the Text Box tab, select the Word Wrap In AutoShape check box or select the Resize To Fit Text check box, and then click OK.