All of us have been faced with formatting challenges when creating tables or a survey grid. Many times the Likert Scale headings plus the question language are just too much for 8.5 by 11. Consider turning your column headings vertical or at a 45 degree angle to create more space. The choice is based upon style and audience preference. Here is how to do it in each application.

Word
Create a table in Word 2007 by selecting Insert, Table and build a 6x2 table.

Select the scale portion of the first row and right-click your mouse to show the formatting menu. Select Text Direction and the Text Direction box appears. Select the direction and away you go!
 

PowerPoint 2007
The steps are pretty much the same. On a blank slide, select Insert, Table and build a 6x2 table. Select the cells for your column headings and click the Table Tools, Layout menu. Select Text Direction and choose your text direction. You can also change text direction with text boxes.

Excel
This is where the “fun” occurs. I personally like the headings at a 45 degree angle – easier to read! Here are the steps to create the table below.

Open a new spreadsheet and place the Likert Scale responses in columns B-F. Highlight the scale headings, right-click your mouse, and select Format Cells. Select Alignment tab and then check Wrap Text and change the Orientation to 45 degrees. The scale will look scrunched. Change the width of the rows and columns and add a border to look like the image above.