How to Change the Line Spacing in Microsoft Word

When you are writing a standard letter, single-spaced text is perfectly fine. However, if you are submitting a college essay, a legal document, or a manuscript to an editor, strict formatting rules often require your document to be double-spaced to allow room for handwritten notes.

Microsoft Word makes it incredibly easy to adjust the vertical space between lines of text, whether you are starting a new document or reformatting an existing one.

How to Change Line Spacing for Specific Text

If you only want to change the spacing of a single paragraph or a specific section of your document, follow these steps:

1. Use your mouse to highlight the specific text you want to change. (If you want to select the entire document, press Ctrl + A on Windows or Command + A on Mac).
2. Click the Home tab at the top of the ribbon.
3. Look for the Paragraph group in the middle of the ribbon.
4. Click the Line and Paragraph Spacing button. (It has an icon of four horizontal lines with small blue up and down arrows next to it).
5. A drop-down menu will appear featuring numbers like 1.0, 1.15, 1.5, and 2.0.
6. Select 2.0 to make your text double-spaced, or 1.5 for a slightly looser, highly readable layout.

How to Change Line Spacing for the Entire Document

If you haven’t started typing yet and you want to ensure the entire document is double-spaced from the very beginning, it is better to change the default layout.

1. Click the Design tab at the top of the ribbon.
2. Look for the Document Formatting group.
3. Click on the Paragraph Spacing button.
4. A drop-down menu will appear with various preset styles.
5. Hover your mouse over the Double option (or “Relaxed” for 1.5 spacing) and click it.

Now, everything you type from this point forward will automatically conform to the new line spacing rule.

Removing Extra Space Between Paragraphs

Sometimes, the spacing within your paragraph looks fine, but Word insists on adding a massive gap every time you press Enter to start a new paragraph.

To fix this, highlight your text, click the Line and Paragraph Spacing button on the Home tab again, and look at the very bottom of the menu. You will see an option that says Remove Space After Paragraph. Clicking this will tighten up your document and ensure uniform spacing throughout.