Change spacing or alignment

Line spacing determines the amount of vertical space between the lines of text in a paragraph.

Paragraph spacing determines the amount of space above or below a paragraph.

By default, lines are single-spaced, with slightly more space following each paragraph.

If you want to reuse the paragraph or line spacing that you set up, you can create a style. For more information about creating styles that reuse your formatting, see Create a new Quick Style.What do you want to do?

Change the line spacing

Change the spacing before or after paragraphs

Change the line spacing

If a line contains a large text character, graphic, or formula, Microsoft Office Word increases the spacing for that line.

To space all lines evenly within a paragraph, use exact spacing and specify an amount of space that is large enough to fit the largest character or graphic in the line. If items appear cut off, increase the amount of spacing.

1. Select the paragraph for which you want to change the line spacing.

2. On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click Line Spacing.

   

3. Do one of the following:
   • To apply a new setting, click the number of line spaces that you want.

     For example, if you click 2.0, the selected text is double spaced.

   • To set more precise spacing measurements, click Line Spacing Options, and then select the options that you want under Spacing.

Line spacing options

Single This option accommodates the largest font in that line, plus a small amount of extra space. The amount of extra space varies depending on the font that is used.

1.5 lines This option is one-and-one-half times that of single line spacing.

Double This option is twice that of single line spacing.

At least This option sets the minimum line spacing that is needed to fit the largest font or graphic on the line.

Exactly This option sets fixed line spacing that Microsoft Office Word does not adjust.

Multiple This option sets line spacing that is increased or decreased from single spacing by a percentage that you specify. For example, setting line spacing to 1.2 will increase the space by 20 percent.

Change the spacing before or after paragraphs

By default, spacing is increased slightly following paragraphs.

1. Select the paragraphs before or after which you want to change the spacing.
2. On the Page Layout tab, in the Paragraph group, click an arrow next to Spacing Before or Spacing After and enter the amount of space that you want.