Define the center point of the line. Then set a right-aligned tab stop an
appropriate distance to the left of that point and a right-aligned tab stop
the same distance to the right. For example, if you're using the default
Normal.dot page, with 1.25" left and right margins, your document body width
(text line length) is 6", so the center point is at 3". To allow half an
inch between the columns of text, set a right tab stop at 2.75" and a left
tab stop at 3.25". Then press Tab once, type "President," Tab again, type
"Jane Ellen Doe," press Enter, and repeat.
Sometimes if the text to the right of center is much longer than that on the
left, you may want to define the "center" point to the left of absolute
center to make the page look more balanced. In cases where the text on the
right might run over to a second line (for example, if you're listing all
the directors), set the hanging indent even with the left tab stop. You can
either let lines wrap naturally or use line breaks (Shift+Enter) to break
the text as desired.
I use this type of formatting a lot for the Production portion of theater
programs, and this is the way I always do it. You could equally well use a
two-column (borderless) table with right- and left-aligned cells, but that's
really overkill for this type of thing.
--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
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