Google Docs has a handful of ways that you can add breaks to your document, and each of them has a different purpose. In this guide, you’ll learn how and when to use each.
What Are the Different Break Types in Google Docs, and When Should You Use Them?
Google Docs has four types of breaks:
You’ve almost certainly used page breaks before, in Google Docs or Microsoft Word. Page breaks are ideal when you haven’t filled the page above but are starting a new chapter or section in your document. You can also use page breaks to add pictures and graphics that don’t fit on the previous page or that you want to isolate.
If you want to break up your document, but you don’t want to use the same formatting, section breaks are a better choice. With separate sections, you can add different footers and vary certain types of formatting like margins. Section (next) starts your new section on the following page, while Section (continuous) starts a new section without creating a new page.

Column breaks, meanwhile, will flow the text into a new column rather than on a new page. You should use column breaks when writing magazine-style documents. you may also use these when formatting requirements demand that your essays use columns.
How to Use the Different Break Types in Google Docs
Regardless of the type of break you want to add in Google Docs, the process is identical. Follow these steps:
To add a page break, you can also useCtrl + Enteron Windows andCommand + Enteron a Mac. There aremany other Google Docs keyboard shortcutsthat you can use to save time.
Adding breaks in Google Docs is very straightforward, and the process is identical for all of them. By choosing the right break type, you’ll find it much easier to make your document look exactly how you want it. And for simple page breaks, you may always use a keyboard shortcut instead.