But first, ensure the Ruler feature is displayed. There are multiple ways to indent in Microsoft Word depending on the style of document you’re creating and your preferences. Hanging indents are typically used in bibliography or reference sections. The steps are the same for Word 2016, Word 2013, and Word 2010.Īside from indenting the first line, it’s also possible to indent every line except for the first line, known as a hanging indent or second line indent. The images featured in this article are from Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), which is the same as Word 2019. As a general rule, block paragraphs are more common when writing for an online platform, and indented paragraphs are more common in print publishing and academic research. When creating a body of text in a Word document, indenting the first line adds structure and is the most common way to signal the start of a new paragraph or topic.īlock paragraphs are the default in Word, meaning that each line within a paragraph is aligned with the left margin, and the paragraphs only visually separated by line spaces.

Indent using Microsoft’s indent markers.

Microsoft word change indent size