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About this lesson

Learn why you would want more space between the lines within paragraphs and how to apply the space.

Lesson versions

Multiple versions of this lesson are available, choose the appropriate version for you:

2013, 2016, 2019/365.

Exercise files

Download the ‘before’ and ‘after’ Word documents from the video tutorial and try the lesson yourself.

Line Spacing .docx
60.5 KB Line Spacing - Solution.docx
57.8 KB

Quick reference

Line Spacing

Line spacing is the white space between the lines of text in a paragraph and is adjustable depending on your particular document.

When to use

Generally, single spacing is used and would be the same spacing if typed on a typewriter. There is enough whitespace between the lines for the human eye to easily discern the text.

Double line spacing is used mostly in school environments where a teacher will edit or correct a term paper or essay. The double spacing allows room for the edit marks.

1.5 line spacing is for the same reason as double, or “2.0” spacing, but shrinks it just enough to allow more text per page.

Instructions

  1. Click into a paragraph, or select the entire document with Ctrl A.
  2. Click on the Home Ribbon, Paragraph group, and the line spacing button.
  3. Select a line spacing measurement.

Hints & tips

  • Ctrl 1 is Single space.
  • Ctrl 5 is 1 ½ space.
  • Ctrl 2 is Double Space.
  • Ctrl A is “select all” and will highlight the entire document so you can change the line spacing all at once.
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  • 00:04 In this lesson we're gonna review line spacing.
  • 00:07 Now, notice on this first paragraph,
  • 00:09 line spacing happens to be the blink area between the lines of a paragraph.
  • 00:14 We're not talking about paragraph spacing and
  • 00:17 the gap between the paragraphs we're talking about within the paragraph itself.
  • 00:21 So how do I know if I'm at single space right now?
  • 00:23 Well, we go up here to the line spacing button which is in the paragraph group,
  • 00:28 home ribbon paragraph group line spacing, when I hit the drop down arrow, we have
  • 00:32 these options 1.15 which is 1 and an eighth, 1 and a half, 2, 2 and a half 3,
  • 00:38 I have no idea why you would want triple spacing but Microsoft has added that,
  • 00:42 just so you can see, by default Microsoft using 1 and an eighth.
  • 00:47 And it's okay, if I have the room on the letter to spread out the lines,
  • 00:51 it helps the reader look at the lines, you know, it's just easier for that end user.
  • 00:57 So now, if I need to make space lower or
  • 01:00 save space on the page, the smallest amount I'm gonna go is 1.0, right?
  • 01:04 So you can use that button to change those.
  • 01:07 Now, let's go ahead and do the next one.
  • 01:09 In this paragraph, we're gonna triple click, one, two, three.
  • 01:11 And we're going to double space this particular one.
  • 01:14 Now double-space, I can come up here, hit the drop down arrow and 2.0 or
  • 01:20 on my keyboard I can Ctrl+2 for double space.
  • 01:25 Ctrl+1 will bring you back to single, Ctrl+2 will take you to double and
  • 01:29 guess where 1 and a half is?
  • 01:30 Well if I go to Ctrl+1 it takes me to single but half would be five, right?
  • 01:34 Ctrl+5 is one and a half spacing.
  • 01:37 When we have this one at one and a half spacing, and now on this one,
  • 01:39 we'll triple click.
  • 01:40 One, two, three, and Ctrl+2.
  • 01:42 In fact, I don't even have to triple click.
  • 01:45 I could just click inside of it since it is a paragraph feature.
  • 01:48 Click inside of it, hit Ctrl+1, hit Ctrl+2, that easy.
  • 01:52 All right, there's a little bit more though.
  • 01:54 I'm gonna triple click this particular paragraph just you can keep your eye on
  • 01:57 it, right?
  • 01:58 As I work with it, I'm gonna come up to the line and spacing options, and
  • 02:01 look at this, Line Spacing Options.
  • 02:04 When I activate that, it says Indent and Spacing, so in general, I have Indent or
  • 02:08 Spacing but over here Line spacing, well,
  • 02:11 it recognizes that we're on a double spacing.
  • 02:13 So notice on the list, at least exactly are multiple, so
  • 02:17 I could take at least 12 points or 6 points, this is font size, okay?
  • 02:23 So let's say at least 6 points, I'll hit OK on that.
  • 02:26 And look it, it just looks like single line spacing.
  • 02:29 In fact, if I hit Ctrl+1, will it spread out?
  • 02:31 Ctrl+1, nope, it is single spacing.
  • 02:34 Let's see if we can create a unique view here.
  • 02:38 I wanna say at exactly,
  • 02:40 instead of I'm going to say one point had okay, look at that.
  • 02:45 I just jammed and slammed that paragraph on top of each other.
  • 02:48 It looks just crazy.
  • 02:50 Why would I do that? For decoration
  • 02:51 I suppose. So, let me try that again line spacing options.
  • 02:55 I'm going to tell it three points at least three points.
  • 02:58 There you go spread it out a little.
  • 03:00 It might be a unique way to get attention and
  • 03:04 then have them slowly spread themselves out on a newsletter or something.
  • 03:09 Just an idea for you the line spacing options are very easy to work with.
  • 03:14 Just get in there to the line spacing and explore a little bit.
  • 03:17 And then practice the Ctrl+1, Ctrl+2,
  • 03:21 Ctrl+5 to spread your lines apart.

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