Double spacing in Microsoft Word changes the space between lines without requiring blank lines between paragraphs. You can apply it to the whole document or only selected text.
Double-space text in Word
- Open the document.
- Press Ctrl + A to select everything, or highlight only the text you want to change.
- Open the Home tab.
- Choose Line and Paragraph Spacing in the Paragraph group.
- Select 2.0.
If the document still has more space than expected, check the paragraph spacing values. Space Before and Space After are separate from line spacing and can make double-spaced text look unusually spread out.
For documents with strict formatting rules
School and professional guidelines sometimes require double line spacing with no additional space after paragraphs. Open the Paragraph dialog if you need to set those values precisely rather than relying on the document’s current style.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
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