Proper line spacing is essential for readability and professional document formatting. Whether you're writing an essay, report, or business letter, knowing how to adjust line spacing in Word is a fundamental skill. This guide will show you how to set single, 1.5, double, and custom line spacing in English versions of Microsoft Word.
Method 1: Using the Home Tab (Quick Settings)
Step 1: Open your Word document and select the paragraphs you want to format. If you want to change the entire document, press Ctrl + A to select all.
Step 2: Go to the Home tab on the ribbon.
Step 3: In the Paragraph group, click the icon that looks like lines with arrows (labeled "Line and Paragraph Spacing").
Step 4: Choose from the quick options:
- 1.0 – Single spacing
- 1.15 – Slightly more than single
- 1.5 – One-and-a-half spacing
- 2.0 – Double spacing
- Remove Space After Paragraph
- Add Space After Paragraph
Method 2: Custom Line Spacing via Paragraph Settings
Step 1: Select the text you want to format.
Step 2: On the Home tab, click the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Paragraph group. This opens the Paragraph dialog box.
Step 3: Under the Indents and Spacing tab, find the Line spacing dropdown menu.
Step 4: Choose your preferred option:
- Single – Default spacing
- 1.5 lines – One-and-a-half spacing
- Double – Double spacing
- Exactly – Set a fixed value (e.g., 18 pt)
- Multiple – Set custom multiples (e.g., 1.75)
Step 5: You can also set Before and After spacing (in points) to add space between paragraphs.
Step 6: Click OK to apply the changes.
Common Line Spacing Requirements
- Academic Papers: Often require double (2.0) or 1.5 line spacing.
- Business Letters: Usually use single (1.0) spacing with extra space between paragraphs.
- Resumes: Typically single-spaced with clear section breaks.
Tip: To make double spacing the default for all new documents, set your desired spacing in the Paragraph dialog, then click Set As Default and choose "All documents based on the Normal template".