how to add columns in google slides

Introduction

Adding columns to your text in Google Slides can help organize content and improve the overall look of your presentation. Google Slides doesn’t have a built-in tool specifically for creating columns, but there are some workarounds you can implement with ease. Here’s how to add columns in Google Slides, step by step.

Using Text Boxes as Columns

One of the simplest methods to add columns to a slide involves creating multiple text boxes that act as columns. Follow these steps:

1. Open your Google Slides presentation and go to the slide where you would like to add columns.
2. Click on the “Text box” button in the toolbar, or use the keyboard shortcut by pressing T on your keyboard.
3. Click and drag on the slide to draw a text box that will serve as your first column.
4. Type or paste your content into the text box.
5. To create a second column, simply click on the “Text box” button again and draw another text box beside the first one.
6. Adjust the width of each text box to ensure they are even and align them as needed to create the appearance of columns. You can use the guidelines that appear when moving the text boxes to align them accurately.

Repeat this process for as many columns as you need. Remember to leave adequate space between the text boxes to clearly define each column.

Using Tables as Columns

Another approach to creating columns in Google Slides is using tables. Here’s how:

1. Go to the slide where you want to add columns.
2. Click on the “Insert” menu at the top and select “Table” from the dropdown menu.
3. Select the number of columns you want by highlighting the appropriate number of cells horizontally. For instance, if you want two columns, highlight two cells across.
4. Once the table is inserted, click inside the cells to add content. The table cells act as columns.
5. You can adjust the width of each column by clicking and dragging the edges of the table cells.
6. If you don’t want the borders of the table to show, click on the table, then click on the “Border color” button in the toolbar and select “Transparent.”

Using tables also gives you the advantage of easily adjusting the column layout while keeping your text aligned.

Tips for Creating Columns

• Spacing: Ensure there’s even spacing between columns for a uniform look.
• Alignment: Use the ruler and guides to help align your text boxes or table cells.
• Consistency: If you plan to use columns on multiple slides, keep the formatting consistent throughout your presentation.
• Formatting: Use paragraph formatting tools to adjust the alignment and spacing within your columns for better readability.

Conclusion

Creating columns in Google Slides requires a bit of improvisation since there’s no direct feature for this layout. However, by using text boxes or tables, you can effectively organize your content into columns. The steps provided here should enable you to enhance the visual structure of your slides with minimal effort.