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How to Create a Drop Cap in Word

Tap through each step to see how a drop cap comes together.

  1. Place the cursor in the paragraph to decorate

    Click inside the paragraph whose first letter you want to enlarge.

  2. Click the "Insert" tab

    Go to the "Insert" tab at the top of the ribbon.

  3. Click "Drop Cap"

    In the "Text" group, click "Drop Cap" and choose either "Dropped" or "In margin."

  4. Fine-tune the font and size

    Open "Drop Cap Options" to set the font, how many lines tall the letter should be, and the distance from the surrounding text.

  5. Why it is worth using

    Enlarging the first letter of a paragraph, the way books and magazines often do, adds a design accent to a document and makes it visually clear exactly where the text begins.

Want to give a document a design touch, the way books and magazines do

A plain wall of body text can feel flat, especially at the start of a chapter or article. Enlarging just the first letter breaks that up, giving the page a clear visual anchor and a small design flourish without touching the rest of the layout.

Dropped versus In margin

The two built-in styles behave differently: "Dropped" enlarges the letter and lets the surrounding body text wrap around it, so the paragraph still reads as one continuous block. "In margin" pushes the enlarged letter out into the left margin instead, so it sits beside the paragraph rather than inside it -- a look often used in more formal or magazine-style layouts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the "Dropped" and "In margin" styles?

With "Dropped," the letter enlarges and the body text flows around it within the paragraph. With "In margin," the letter is pushed out into the left margin and sits alongside the paragraph instead.

How do I remove a drop cap?

Click "Insert" then "Drop Cap" again, and choose "None." The letter returns to its normal size.