Set tab stops

Microsoft Office Word 2003

Show All Show All

Set tab stops

Tab stops enable you to line up text to the left, right, center, or to a decimal character or bar character. You can also automatically insert specific characters, such as periods or dashes, before the tabs.

  1. Select the paragraph in which you want to set a tab stop.
  2. Do one of the following:

    ShowTo set tabs

    1. Click Left Tab Button image at the far left of the horizontal ruler until it changes to the type of tab you want: Left Tab Button image, Right Tab Button image, Center Tab Button image, Decimal Tab Button image, or Bar Tab Button image.

    2. Click the horizontal ruler where you want to set a tab stop.

    ShowTip

    To set precise measurements, click Tabs on the Format menu, enter the measurements you want under Tab stop position, and then click Set.

    ShowTo set tabs with leader characters

    1. On the Format menu, click Tabs.
    2. Under Tab stop position, type the position for a new tab, or select an existing tab stop to which you want to add leader characters.
    3. Under Alignment, select the alignment for text typed at the tab stop.
    4. Under Leader, click the leader option you want, and then click Set.