Hi

I think we may need some more information to help you. Can you post back and
let us know:
- what version of Word are you using?
- what does your document look like now?
- what exact steps are you taking
- what happens when you follow those steps?

Shauna

Shauna Kelly.  Microsoft MVP.
http://www.shaunakelly.com/word

it doesn't change a thing. I don't know how it became book layout in the
first place.

After some thought, it occurs to me that if this is Word 2003, probably what
you're seeing is Reading Layout view. Annoyingly, in this view there is no
status bar, so you can't switch to another view, but there is a Close button
on the (very unfamiliar) toolbar (or you can choose a different view from
the View menu). If this is what you're seeing, you can prevent it by
clearing the check box for "Allow starting in Reading Layout" on the General
tab of Tools | Options.

it doesn't change a thing. I don't know how it became book layout in the
first place.