How to Double Space in Microsoft Word

If you are writing an academic essay for a university professor (using APA or MLA format) or submitting a manuscript to a publishing house, the formatting guidelines almost universally require the text to be double-spaced. A double-spaced document leaves a massive, blank horizontal line of whitespace between every single line of text, allowing editors room to write physical notes with a red pen when they print it out.

Do not attempt to “fake” double spacing by hitting the Enter key twice at the end of every line. This will destroy the formatting of your document the second you change the font size. You must use Microsoft Word’s built-in line spacing tools.

Method 1: The Quick Button (For Specific Paragraphs)

If you only want to double-space a specific section of your document (e.g., a block quote), you can use the Line Spacing button on the main ribbon.

1. Use your mouse to click and drag to highlight the text you want to double-space. (If you want to double-space the entire document, press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to highlight everything).
2. Look at the Ribbon at the top of the screen and ensure you are on the Home tab.
3. Look in the Paragraph section (in the middle of the ribbon).
4. Find the button that looks like four horizontal lines with a blue up-and-down arrow next to it. (This is the Line and Paragraph Spacing button). Click it.
5. A drop-down menu will appear with a list of numbers (1.0, 1.15, 1.5, 2.0).
6. Click on 2.0.

The highlighted text will instantly expand, pushing the lines apart to create perfect double spacing.

Method 2: The Design Tab (Set as Default for the Whole Document)

If you are starting a brand new, blank document and you want to ensure that every single thing you type from this point forward is automatically double-spaced without you having to highlight anything, you should change the global document design.

1. Look at the Ribbon at the top of the screen and click on the Design tab.
2. Look near the far-right side of the ribbon and click on the Paragraph Spacing button.
3. A drop-down menu will appear with several formatting presets (Compact, Tight, Open, Relaxed).
4. Click on Double (at the very bottom of the list).

This instantly forces the entire document into double-spaced mode, overriding any minor paragraph settings you might have accidentally messed up.

Method 3: The Keyboard Shortcut (The Fastest Way)

If you are an academic who writes constantly, you should memorize the Microsoft Word Line Spacing keyboard shortcuts. They are incredibly intuitive and require no clicking through menus.

1. Highlight the text you want to format (or press Ctrl + A to highlight everything).
2. Press and hold the Ctrl key.
3. Press the number 2 (on the top row of your keyboard).

The text will instantly double-space. If you change your mind and want to revert to single-spacing, highlight the text and press Ctrl + 1.

(Note: Do not use the numeric keypad on the right side of your keyboard for these shortcuts; you must use the number row above the letters).

Advanced: Removing “Before and After” Paragraph Spacing

Sometimes, even after you set the document to double-spacing (2.0), the gaps between your actual paragraphs look massive, as if they are triple-spaced. This happens because Word adds extra “padding” between paragraphs by default.

To fix this and create a perfectly uniform academic document:

1. Highlight your entire document (Ctrl + A).
2. Click the Home tab.
3. Click the Line and Paragraph Spacing button (the up/down arrows).
4. Look at the very bottom of the drop-down menu.
5. If you see an option that says Remove Space After Paragraph, click it.

This strips out the artificial padding, leaving only the pure, mathematical 2.0 double-spacing you require.