To draw a visible outline around text in Word, choose Insert > Shapes > Oval, drag the shape around the text, then set Shape Fill > No Fill so the words remain visible. Hold Shift while dragging to make a circle instead of an oval. If you mean circling text to select it for formatting, use Ink Editor on a supported touch or digital-pen setup; that gesture selects text rather than leaving an oval on the page.
Draw a visible circle or oval around text
- Click Insert.
- Select Shapes, then choose Oval under Basic Shapes.
- Click and drag around the word or passage you want to mark. Microsoft Support says to press Shift while dragging to draw a circle; without Shift, the oval can be stretched to fit the text.
- If the shape hides the words, select it and choose Shape Fill > No Fill on the formatting tab. The outline remains while the text beneath it shows through.
These steps create a persistent shape annotation in the document. Microsoft lists this shape feature for Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, Word 2021, Word 2019, and Word 2016. Menu placement can vary by version and window size. Microsoft Support: Draw a curve or circle shape.
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Circle text to select it for formatting
On a supported touch device or a device that works with a digital pen, open Draw > Ink Editor pen and draw a circle around the text. This is a selection gesture: it selects words, sentences, or paragraphs so you can apply formatting such as bold, italic, or font color. It does not insert an oval annotation.
If your device has touch input but no digital pen, Microsoft directs users to Draw with Touch > Ink Editor pen. The Draw tab turns on automatically on touch-enabled devices; in the documented Windows workflow, you can enable it through File > Options > Customize Ribbon > Draw. Microsoft documents this for Word for Microsoft 365 and Word Mobile in specific touch and digital-pen contexts, so the gesture is not available in every Word edition or on every device. Microsoft Support: Use Ink Editor to edit documents with a touch screen or digital pen.
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Choose the right method for the result you want
| Method | What it does | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Insert an oval shape | Leaves a visible outline around document content | You want a markup that remains on the page |
| Ink Editor circle gesture | Selects text rather than drawing a lasting outline | You want to format selected text on a supported touch or pen workflow |
| Text highlighting | Adds colored background emphasis to selected text | A colored mark is enough and an outline is unnecessary |
Alternatives for emphasis or decorative text
Highlight text
Select the text, then choose Home > Text Highlight Color and a color. For a continuous series of marks, the highlight tool remains active until stopped; press Esc to stop. This emphasizes text with a colored background rather than an oval outline. Microsoft Support: Highlight text in Word.
Make lettering curve with WordArt
For decorative lettering rather than a circle around ordinary body text, choose Insert > WordArt, enter the text, select the WordArt, then use Shape Format > Text Effects > Transform. WordArt changes the text’s shape; it does not mark existing text with an outline. Word for the web can display existing WordArt, but adding more requires desktop Word. Microsoft Support: Curve text around a circle or other shape.
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Put text in a movable box
Choose Insert > Text Box when you want text in a movable box, rather than an outline around text already in the document. Microsoft Support: Add, copy, or delete a text box in Word.
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