Notion

How to Wrap Text in Notion

Spencer LanoueSpencer Lanoue
Notion

Working with text in Notion can sometimes feel like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Especially when it comes to wrapping text. Notion is a powerhouse for organizing thoughts, projects, and even grocery lists. But it can be tricky when you want your text to look just right. Here, we'll explore different ways to make text wrap smoothly in Notion. Enhancing your experience with this versatile tool. Whether it's working with tables, toggles, or images, we'll cover the ins and outs to ensure your text behaves just as you want it to.

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Why Text Wrapping Matters in Notion

Let's start with why all this matters. In Notion, the default behavior can sometimes leave your text looking disjointed or awkward. Particularly if you're dealing with narrow columns or multiple blocks of content side by side. Text wrapping can help make your pages look cleaner and more professional, which is crucial if you're sharing your work with others. Imagine presenting a project plan or a business proposal with awkward line breaks. It doesn't exactly scream "polished."

Furthermore, well-wrapped text improves readability. When text flows naturally, it's easier to read and follow, which means less strain on your eyes and more focus on the content itself. So, if you've ever squinted at a screen trying to decipher a jumble of text, you'll appreciate the difference good text wrapping can make.

Wrapping Text in Basic Blocks

Notion's basic text blocks are the building blocks of most pages. These include paragraphs, headings, and lists. In most cases, Notion automatically wraps text in these blocks, meaning you don't usually have to worry about it. However, if you want to control the width of your text, you can adjust the page width.

  • To adjust page width, click on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the page.
  • Toggle the Full Width option to make the content span the entire screen or keep it unchecked for a narrower view.

This choice affects how much horizontal space your text has to wrap naturally. While it's a simple toggle, it can significantly impact how your content looks, especially if you're working with lots of text or prefer a more compact layout.

Using Columns for Better Layout

Columns can be another handy feature in Notion for controlling how text and other elements like images or tables appear side by side. However, Notion doesn't let you manually adjust column width, which can affect text wrapping. Here's a trick to manage this:

  • Start by creating a new block and dragging it to the right of an existing block until you see a vertical blue line. This creates a column.
  • To add more columns, drag additional blocks either to the right or left of existing columns.

While this doesn't directly change text wrapping, working with columns can help you organize your content more effectively, allowing you to control which content takes up more space. It's a bit like organizing your kitchen. Sometimes, grouping similar items together just makes everything easier to find.

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Adjusting Column Widths

One way to indirectly adjust column widths - and therefore text wrapping - is to use different block types within columns. For example, placing a wider block like an image or a database in a column can create a visual division, encouraging text in adjacent columns to wrap around it neatly.

While Notion doesn't offer explicit control over column width, experimenting with different block types can help you achieve the desired layout. Think of it like arranging furniture in a room. Sometimes you need to move things around a bit before it feels right.

Text Wrapping in Tables

Tables are where text wrapping can get particularly tricky in Notion. By default, Notion tables do not wrap text, which can lead to unwieldy tables with long, single-line entries. Here's how to manage this:

  • Click on a column header to open the column menu.
  • Select Wrap Cells. This option isn't available in all table types, but when it is, it can make a huge difference.

If you're working with a table that doesn't support cell wrapping, consider using a list or a database view with a description property instead. These options often provide more flexibility for displaying longer text.

Interestingly enough, using Spell can help you adjust your text for perfect wrapping before even bringing it into Notion. Since Spell allows you to refine and polish your documents with ease, you can ensure the content flows beautifully, making it a breeze to import into your Notion tables.

Wrapping Text Around Images

Images can add great value to your Notion pages, but they can also disrupt text flow if not handled correctly. Notion doesn't automatically wrap text around images, but there are ways to achieve a similar effect:

  • Place images in a column next to your text. This manual method allows text to occupy one column while the image occupies another.
  • Alternatively, use image captions to add descriptive text directly below your image, keeping the visual and textual content connected.

This approach requires a bit of manual adjustment, but it can lead to a more aesthetically pleasing result. When image and text are aligned, your page not only looks better but also communicates your message more effectively.

Using Toggles for Collapsible Content

Toggles are a fantastic way to manage large amounts of text without overwhelming your page. By using toggles, you can hide sections of text and reveal them with a simple click. This doesn't directly wrap text, but it does help manage it by keeping your page tidy and organized.

To use a toggle:

  • Type /toggle and hit enter to create a new toggle block.
  • Enter your text or place other blocks inside the toggle.

This feature is especially useful for FAQs, detailed explanations, or organizing thoughts during brainstorming sessions. It's like a digital drawer. Open it when you need it, close it when you don't.

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Text Wrapping in Databases

Notion's databases are powerful tools for organizing information, but they can be a bit rigid when it comes to text wrapping. Here's how you can manage text in databases:

  • Use the Gallery View for visual content. This view naturally accommodates longer text entries by displaying them below images or cards.
  • Opt for the Board View for categorized content. This view automatically wraps text within each card, making it easier to read and manage.

While these solutions aren't perfect, they offer ways to better manage text within databases, ensuring information remains accessible and easy to digest.

Customizing with Markdown

Markdown is a lightweight markup language that you can use in Notion to format text. While it doesn't directly affect text wrapping, it allows for more customized text presentation, which can indirectly influence how text appears.

  • Use **bold** or *italic* to emphasize text.
  • Create headers with # for H1, ## for H2, etc.

These options help structure your text better, making it visually appealing and easier to read. Think of Markdown as your toolbox. Having the right tool for the job can make all the difference.

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Spell: A Helping Hand

Sometimes, achieving perfect text wrapping requires a bit of creativity outside of Notion. This is where Spell can be a real lifesaver. With Spell, you can draft and refine your documents with AI assistance, ensuring your text is perfectly polished before bringing it into Notion. This can save you from endless tweaking and formatting within Notion itself.

Spell's AI capabilities allow you to edit and adjust text using natural language, ensuring it flows well and wraps perfectly once imported. It's like having a virtual assistant who understands exactly how you want your content to look.

Practice Makes Perfect

Like anything, getting text to wrap just right in Notion takes a bit of practice. Don't be afraid to experiment with different layouts, block types, and views to see what works best for your needs. Remember, Notion is flexible enough to adapt to various styles and preferences, so take advantage of that flexibility and make it work for you.

And if you ever feel stuck or overwhelmed, tools like Spell are there to help smooth out the process, turning hours of formatting into minutes of productivity.

Final Thoughts

Getting text to wrap neatly in Notion might seem challenging at first, but with these strategies, you'll find it much easier. Keep experimenting and adapting until you find what suits your needs. And for those moments when you need an extra hand, Spell can make the job faster and more efficient, ensuring your documents are always polished and professional.

Spencer Lanoue

Spencer Lanoue

Spencer has been working in product and growth for the last 10 years. He's currently Head of Growth at Sugardoh. Before that he worked at Bump Boxes, Buffer, UserTesting, and a few other early-stage startups.

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