It sounds like the issue you are experiencing is related to the column spacing and margins in your document. Here are a few steps you can try to resolve the issue:
- Check the column spacing: Go to the Page Layout tab and click on Columns. Make sure that the column spacing is set to "Equal column width" and that the number of columns is consistent throughout the document.
- Adjust the margins: Go to the Page Layout tab and click on Margins. Try adjusting the margins to see if this resolves the issue. If you receive an error message, try adjusting the margins in smaller increments until you find a setting that works.
- Check for section breaks: As you mentioned, your document has multiple section breaks with different page layouts. Check each section to make sure that the column spacing and margins are consistent within each section. You can do this by going to the Page Layout tab, clicking on Breaks, and selecting Next Page under Section Breaks.
- Use the ruler: You can also use the ruler to adjust the margins and column spacing. Go to the View tab and make sure that Ruler is checked. Then, click and drag the markers on the ruler to adjust the margins and column spacing.
If none of these steps resolve the issue, it may be helpful to try copying and pasting the text into a new document and formatting it from scratch. This can help to eliminate any hidden formatting or section breaks that may be causing the issue.