3 Ways to Indent a Paragraph in Microsoft Word

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Method 1: Indent First Line or Entire Paragraph Using the Tab Key

The Tab key on your keyboard is the quickest method for indenting paragraphs. However, it is best used when indenting individual paragraphs in your Word document. Here’s how to use it:

Step 1:Launch the Microsoft Word app.

Step 2:Open your desired document.

Step 3:Place your cursor on the paragraph in the document you want to indent. Place your cursor at the start of the paragraph for the first line indent. While for standard indent, place your cursor at the start of any other line in the paragraph.

Step 4:Press theTabkey on your keyboard. For the first-line indent, pressing the tab key should leave a gap between the left page margin and the first line. For the standard indent, leave a gap between the left page margin and the entire paragraph.

Method 2: Indent a Whole Document Using the Ruler

You can use the Ruler to indent your paragraphs in Microsoft Word. The Ruler has markers that you can adjust to create paragraph indents. This makes it easier and faster to simultaneously adjust the indent for multiple paragraphs. Here’s how to do so:

Step 1:Open Microsoft Word.

Step 2:Open your desired document.

Step 3:Place your cursor on the Word document.

Step 4:Press theControl+Akeyboard shortcut to select all text in the Word document. Alternatively, click theSelect Alloption in theEditinggroup of the Word Home Ribbon.

Step 5:Click theViewtab on the Word Ribbon.

Step 6:Tick the box besideRulerto ensure the Ruler is visible on the Word canvas.

Step 7:Hover your cursor over the markers on the Word Ruler, and it should show theFirst Line Indent,Left Indent, andRight Indent.

Step 8:Drag the markers to get the desired indent.

Note:You canuse the Word Rulerto adjust page margins and add tab stops to a document.

Method 3: Use Paragraph Dialog Box For More Indentation Options

The paragraph dialog box method allows you to choose the type of indent you want for the paragraphs in your document. You can also decide on the width of the indent gap between the page margins and the lines of text in the paragraph. Here’s how to do so:

Step 1:Launch your Microsoft Word.

Step 2:Open the desired document.

Step 3:Place your cursor on the Word document.

Step 4:Press theCtrl+Akeys on your keyboard to select all text in the Word document. Alternatively, click theSelect Alloption in theEditinggroup of the Word Home Ribbon.

Step 5:In theHometab of the Word Ribbon, click the dialog box launcher beside theParagraphgroup.

Step 6:Click theIndents and Spacingtab in the Paragraph dialog box.

Step 7:In theIndentationsection, click the drop-down beneathSpecial.

Step 8:Choose your preferred indentation from(none),First line, andHanging.

Step 9:In theByfield, select the width of the indent using the increment arrows.

Step 10:Click theOKbutton to save your choices and close the dialog box.

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Last updated on 13 July, 2024

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