Indent paragraphs

Microsoft Office Word 2003

  1. Select the paragraph you want to indent.
  2. If you don't see the horizontal ruler, click Ruler on the View menu.
  3. On the horizontal ruler, drag the First Line Indent marker to the position where you want the text to start.

    First Line Indent marker

    ShowTip

    For more precision in setting a first-line indent, you can select options on the Indents and Spacing tab (Format menu, Paragraph command). In the Special list under Indentation, click First line, and then set the other options you want.

ShowIncrease or decrease the left indent of an entire paragraph

  1. Select the paragraph you want to change.
  2. On the Formatting toolbar, click Increase Indent Button image or Decrease Indent Button image.
  3. Microsoft Word increases the indent by one tab stop. If you want to change the position of the indent, you can first set a different tab stop.

ShowChange the right indent of an entire paragraph

  1. Select the paragraph you want to change.
  2. If you don't see the horizontal ruler, click Ruler on the View menu.
  3. On the horizontal ruler, drag the Right Indent marker to the position where you want the text to end.

    Right Indent marker

ShowSet an indent by using the TAB key

  1. On the Tools menu, click AutoCorrect Options, and then click the AutoFormat As You Type tab.
  2. Under Automatically as you type, select the Set left- and first-indent with tabs and backspaces check box.
  3. To indent the first line of a paragraph, click in front of the line.

    To indent an entire paragraph, click in front of any line but the first line.

  4. Press the TAB key.

Note  To remove the indent, press BACKSPACE before moving the insertion point. You can also click Undo on the Edit menu.

ShowCreate a hanging indent

  1. Select the paragraph in which you want to create a hanging indent.
  2. If you don't see the horizontal ruler, click Ruler on the View menu.
  3. On the horizontal ruler, drag the Hanging Indent marker to the position at which you want the indent to start.

    Hanging Indent marker

    ShowTip

    For more precision in setting a hanging indent, use the Indents and Spacing tab (Format menu, Paragraph command). In the Special list under Indentation, select Hanging. In the By box, set the amount of space for the hanging indent.

ShowCreate a negative indent

  1. Select the paragraph you want to extend into the left margin.
  2. If you don't see the horizontal ruler, click Ruler on the View menu.
  3. On the horizontal ruler, drag the Left Indent marker to the position where you want the paragraph to start.

    Left Indent marker