The Rogue Formatting
Google Docs tries to emulate traditional word processors by automatically structuring your data. If you type a standard dash (-) or an asterisk (*), followed by a space, and then type a sentence, Docs assumes you are trying to create a bulleted list. Upon pressing Enter, it will automatically convert your dash into a formal bullet point and automatically indent the entire paragraph to the right. While helpful for writing meeting agendas, it is incredibly annoying if you are just using dashes for stylistic separation or writing raw code snippets and need the text to remain flush against the left margin.
Disabling Smart Lists
To maintain absolute control over your paragraph spacing and stop Google Docs from automatically indenting your text and converting symbols into formal lists, you must disable the specific auto-format setting.
Go to the main menu bar at the top of your Google Docs window and click on Tools. From the drop-down menu, select Preferences. A new dialogue box will appear with two tabs at the top; ensure you are on the General tab. Look through the list of checkboxes for the option labelled Automatically detect lists. Click the checkbox next to this option to remove the checkmark. Click the blue OK button at the bottom to save your changes. From now on, if you type an asterisk and a space, Google Docs will simply leave it as raw text and will never push your margins inward.