Your manager asks you to proofread a draft Word 2010 press release. You recommend adding page numbers but want numbering to begin on the third page of the document instead of page one. What should you do in Word 2010 to start page numbering from the third page?

Introduction / Context:
Long documents often require more flexible page numbering schemes, such as leaving front matter unnumbered and beginning page numbers on a later page. Word 2010 provides section breaks and header and footer options to allow different page number formats in different parts of the document. This question tests your understanding of how to start numbering from the third page rather than from the first page.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The document is created in Word 2010.
• Your manager wants page numbers added for readability.
• Page numbering should start on page 3, treating it as page 1 in the numbering scheme.
• Pages 1 and 2 should not display page numbers or should be treated as separate front matter.

Concept / Approach:
To use different page numbering between parts of a document, you must divide the document into sections. Section breaks allow each section to have its own header and footer configuration, including independent page numbering. By inserting a section break after page 2, you can configure the second section to start page numbering at 1, while leaving the first section without page numbers or with different settings. Options such as Different First Page control only the first page of a section and are not enough to start numbering on page 3 without using sections.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Place the insertion point at the end of page 2.Step 2: On the Page Layout tab, insert a section break, typically a Next Page section break, so that page 3 starts a new section.Step 3: Open the header or footer on page 3 and ensure that the Link to Previous option is turned off so that this section has independent headers and footers.Step 4: Insert page numbers in the header or footer for the second section starting on page 3.Step 5: Use the Format Page Numbers dialog to set the starting number to 1 for the new section, so that page 3 of the document is numbered as page 1.
Verification / Alternative check:
After configuration, scroll through the document. Pages 1 and 2 should either have no page numbers or different numbering, while page 3 should display page number 1, page 4 should display page number 2, and so on. This confirms that the section break and numbering settings are applied correctly and that numbering starts where you intend it to start.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, Different First Page, only affects the first page of a section and does not support starting numbering at page 3 without additional sectioning. Option C, Different Odd and Even Pages, is used to create different headers and footers for odd and even pages, not to change where numbering starts. Option D is incorrect because Word absolutely supports starting page numbering in the middle of a document using sections. Only option A correctly describes the need to insert a section break and configure numbering in the new section.

Common Pitfalls:
Users often attempt to hide page numbers on the first few pages by manually deleting them, but this can also remove the numbering from the entire document if sections are not used properly. Another common mistake is leaving Link to Previous enabled, causing header and footer settings, including page numbers, to propagate across sections unintentionally. Learning to use section breaks and the page number formatting dialog is key for professional document layout.

Final Answer:
You should insert a section break after page 2 and start page numbering in the new section so that numbering begins on the third page.