If your line spacing in Word looks too big, select the text (press Ctrl+A for all of it), go to Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing, and choose a smaller number like 1.0. Extra space between paragraphs comes from the Before and After settings in Line Spacing Options; set them to 0 pt to remove it.
These steps come from four Microsoft articles: Remove double line spacing, Change the line and paragraph spacing in Word, Adjust indents and spacing, and Change the default line spacing in Word. They apply to Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, 2021, 2019, and 2016 on Windows and Mac, with notes for Word for the web.
How to fix line spacing that is too big
- Select the paragraph, or press Ctrl+A (Command+A on a Mac) to select everything.
- Go to Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing. In Word for the web, it’s Home > Line Spacing.
- Choose 1.0 for single spacing, or another smaller option.
Result: the lines in your selection move closer together. Microsoft says Word’s default is 1.15 lines, which adds a bit of room between lines.
How to remove extra space between paragraphs
- Select the text.
- Go to Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > Line Spacing Options.
- Under Spacing, set Before and After to 0 pt.
- Select OK.
Result: the gap between paragraphs shrinks. Microsoft notes Word adds 10 points after each paragraph by default, and headings get space above them.
To keep spacing between other paragraphs but remove it inside a list, check Don’t add space between paragraphs of the same style in the same dialog. Microsoft gives bulleted lists as the typical use.
Fix the spacing for the whole document at once
On Windows or Mac, go to Design > Paragraph Spacing and choose No Paragraph Space to single-space the document. Microsoft says this overrides the current style set; to undo it, return to Design > Paragraph Spacing and pick the option under Style Set (often Default).
Still too big? Check the line spacing type
In Line Spacing Options, look at the Line spacing box. Microsoft describes these settings:
- Single, 1.5 lines, Double: fixed multiples of single spacing.
- At least: sets a minimum, but the line grows to fit the largest font or graphic on it, so one big character or image can spread lines out.
- Exactly: fixed spacing in points, such as 12 pt for 10-point text.
- Multiple: a multiplier, so 3 means triple spacing.
If the box shows a large Multiple or At least value, change it to Single or a smaller number.
How to change the default spacing for new documents
- Go to Home > Line and Paragraph Spacing > Line Spacing Options.
- Choose your line spacing and your Before and After settings.
- Select Set as Default.
- Choose All documents based on the Normal template and select OK.
Result: new documents use your spacing. Microsoft notes Word for the web goes back to 1.15 spacing each time you create a new document.
Show or Hide Paragraph Marks to Diagnose Spacing
On Word’s Home tab, select Show/Hide ¶ in the Paragraph group. Paragraph symbols reveal paragraph endings; dots show spaces and arrows show tabs. Select the button again to hide these guides. The Windows shortcut is Ctrl + Shift + 8. Showing them can reveal empty paragraphs that create apparent spacing, without changing your text.
If marks remain visible, open File > Options > Display in Word for Windows and inspect Always show these formatting marks on the screen, including Show all formatting marks. Clear only the marks you do not want and select OK. On Mac, use Word > Preferences > View and its nonprinting-character options. Microsoft’s formatting-mark guide explains the persistent settings. Hide a guide symbol rather than deleting real paragraph breaks merely to remove it from the screen.
Set Custom Tab Stops in Word 2019
In Word 2019 or current desktop Word for Windows, select the intended paragraphs, open Home > Paragraph dialog launcher > Tabs, and enter the measurement in Tab stop position. Choose Left, Center, Right, Decimal or another offered Alignment, choose a Leader when needed, then select Set. Repeat for additional positions and select OK. Press Tab within an intended paragraph and check where the following text aligns; View > Ruler can help inspect the stops. Use Undo for an unintended change or the clear-tab controls below to remove a stop. Microsoft documents these exact dialog controls. Tabs apply to the selected paragraph scope, not automatically to every document; Word for the web recognizes tabs but cannot set or remove them with this desktop dialog.
Clear Custom Tab Stops in Word
Select the paragraphs to change, or press Ctrl + A to select the whole document. In desktop Word for Windows, choose Home > Paragraph dialog launcher > Tabs > Clear All > OK. To remove only one custom stop, select its position and choose Clear instead. On Mac, use Format > Tabs and Clear All. Microsoft’s tab-stop instructions document these controls. Review the affected alignment and save; use Undo if the result is unwanted. Clear All removes custom stops from the selected paragraphs, not every tab character or Word’s default tab spacing. The formatting-marks section above helps you identify actual tab characters before deleting any text.
Insert a Line Break Without Starting a New Paragraph
In Word, place the cursor where the next line should begin and press Shift + Enter on Windows or Shift + Return on Mac. This inserts a manual line break within the same paragraph; Enter or Return alone starts a new paragraph. Turn on the Home tab’s Show/Hide ¶ control to check it: a manual break has a bent-arrow symbol, while a paragraph ends with ¶. The paragraph’s spacing settings still apply. Use Undo if you inserted the break in the wrong place. This is separate from inserting a horizontal rule, column break, or page break.
Turn Off Automatic Hyphenation in Word
In Word 2013 for Windows, open Page Layout > Hyphenation > None. Current desktop Word names the tab Layout; choose Hyphenation and None there. Check paragraphs whose words previously split at a line ending, then inspect print preview because wrapping and page breaks can change. Microsoft explains automatic and manual hyphenation. This stops automatic word splitting; it does not remove ordinary hyphens you typed in names or compound words. Manually inserted optional hyphens are a separate text issue, so do not indiscriminately replace every dash in the document. Select Automatic from the same menu to restore automatic hyphenation, or Undo a recent unwanted change. Line spacing and paragraph spacing use the separate controls above.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Word’s spacing so big by default?
Microsoft says the 1.15 line spacing and 10 points after each paragraph are there for readability. You can change both and save them as your default.
Does this work in Word for the web?
Yes. Microsoft’s web steps use Home > Line Spacing and the same Line Spacing Options. The difference is that Word for the web can’t keep a new default; new documents start at 1.15 again.
More Word Guides
- How to add or remove borders in Word
- How to wrap text around a picture in Word
- Why Word deletes text as you type
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
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