To merge cells, select the cells that you want to merge, right-click, and then select Cell Merge Cells. To split a cell, right-click the cell, and then select Cell Split Cells. Specify the number of cells in which to split the current cell and click OK. To merge the cells, use the «Alignment» tool, which can be found on the main tab. Select the cells that need to be merged. Click «Merge and Center». When the two cells are merged, only the data contained in the top left one is retained.

This article is based on legacy software.

When working with tables, you may occasionally want to merge two or more cells, or split one cell into multiple cells. Word makes this easy.

Merging Cells

Cells can be merged either from the Quick Menu or the Ribbon.

HINTS:
To avoid having to redo your table headings, use the merge and split features as the final step in formatting your table.
If there is text in more than one of the cells being merged, the text from each cell will be separated by paragraphs in the resulting cell.

Merging Cells: Quick Menu Option

Select the cells you want to merge
Right click within the selected cells » select Merge Cells
The selected cells are merged.

Merging Cells: Ribbon Option

Select the cells you want to merge
From the Ribbon, select the Layout command tab
In the Merge group, click MERGE CELLS
The selected cells are merged.

Splitting Cells

As with merging, cells can be split from either the Quick Menu or the Ribbon.

Merging And Splitting Cells Keynote 2019

Splitting Cells: Quick Menu Option

Merging And Splitting Cells Keynote 2017

HINTS:
Word will attempt to evenly divide any text in the cell you are splitting based on the number of paragraphs.
You can only split one cell at a time using the Quick Menu option.

Select the cell you want to split
Right click within the selected cell » select Split Cells...
The Split Cells dialog box appears.
In the Number of columns and/or Number of rows boxes, type or use the nudge buttons to select the desired number of rows and/or columns
Click OK
The selected cell is split according to your settings.

Merging And Splitting Cells Keynote 2020

Merging And Splitting Cells Keynote 2016

Splitting Cells: Ribbon Option

Merging And Splitting Cells Keynote 2018

Select the cell(s) you want to split
NOTE: Unlike the Quick Menu option, using the Ribbon option allows you to split multiple cells at once.
From the Ribbon, select the Layout command tab
In the Merge group, click SPLIT CELLS
The Split Cells dialog box appears.
In the Number of columns and/or Number of rows boxes, type or use the nudge buttons to select the desired number of rows and/or columns
(Optional) If you are splitting multiple cells, to keep cell information that is in consecutive cells on the first selected row of new cells, select Merge cells before split
OR
To keep the information in individual cells in their original cells after splitting (rather than keeping the information in consecutive cells on the first selected row), deselect Merge cells before split
Click OK
The selected cell is split according to your settings.