How Do I Delete an Empty Table From a Microsoft Word Document? : MS Word: Beyond the Basics

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Deleting an empty table from a Microsoft Word is something that you can easily do with your mouse and keyboard. Delete an empty table from a Microsoft Word document with help from a computer professional in this free video clip.

Expert: Debbie Dalrymple
Bio: Debbie Dalrymple provides stand-up software training, which is offered to groups of all sizes and staff at all levels.
Filmmaker: Nick Topka

Series Description: Microsoft Word is still one of the most popular word processing utilities on planet Earth. Get tips on Microsoft Word and go beyond the basics with help from a computer professional in this free video series.

[chriswilliams]

Debbie - I have Windows 7 + Word 2013. I have watched this video 5-8 times and am still not able to do it. A couple of days ago a table showed up in all of my new pages and also all of my previously typed on and saved pages. It is not my intention to have any tables. If there is typing on the page the software places the table under the typed pages verbiage. I can erase the words and the table remains. I am not getting the plus sign in the upper left corner of the box: with one left click of the mouse or two. I did once and tried to highlight the table - again all that it did was highlight the written in areas. As you said hitting the delete button does not work. Tonight I noticed that I did not have many templates and downloaded some - that may help?? I had also saved my written previously written pieces in a separate drive (F) and when I opened them in Word they also had the table under the writing.


I did get the plus sign/star in the left upper corner when I did an insert of a new table over the old hoping that the removal would remove both tables - it only removed the top one. I am assuming that if I can insert and remove a NEW table as I would a new one over the old unwanted one that the software is for good. I do need help if you can advise I would sure appreciate it.


You made it look easy and it was when I drew and removed the new table - it is just the unwanted spontaneously appearing Table that I can not get the plus/star sign with. Instead I get a a symbol that looks like the following sort of - only with 4 little lines in front of it -T . Thank you for your thoughts on this! Christine Williams PS I tried to call the Geek Squad today but they are not seeing people because of the Corona virus. I have book marked your page if you should decide to answer or even see this. Again thank you.

[PatrickGessleman]

In word 2007 (I know) When I follow these instruction I do not get a "Delete Table" Option. I only get the following options by right clicking the box in the top left corner of the table:
cut
copy
Paste rows
Paste as nested table
Insert
Merge Cells
Distrubute Rows evenly
Distribute columns evenly
Draw Tables
Border and shading
Cell Alignment
Autofit
insert caption
table properties


After much fretting I found a work around by cutting the table (first option) and then just never pasting it anywhere.