How To Double Space In Word: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Published on October 19, 2025

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Double spacing in Microsoft Word is a fundamental skill for students, writers, and professionals alike. Whether you’re adhering to academic guidelines, improving readability, or preparing a document for editing, knowing how to double space in Word is essential. This guide will walk you through several methods to achieve double spacing, ensuring your documents meet the required formatting standards.

This article covers quick and easy methods to double-space your entire document, specific paragraphs, or even individual lines. We’ll explore using the ribbon, keyboard shortcuts, and style modifications to give you complete control over your document’s spacing. Let’s dive into the different techniques.

How Do I Double Space in Microsoft Word?

Using the Ribbon

The most straightforward way to double space in Word is by using the ribbon interface.

Select the Text: Highlight the text you want to double space. To double space the entire document, press Ctrl + A (Windows) or Command + A (Mac) to select all.
Navigate to the “Line and Paragraph Spacing” Button: Go to the “Home” tab on the ribbon. In the “Paragraph” group, find the “Line and Paragraph Spacing” button (it looks like an up-and-down arrow next to horizontal lines).
Choose “2.0”: Click the “Line and Paragraph Spacing” button and select “2.0” from the dropdown menu. This will instantly double space the selected text.

Using the Paragraph Settings

For more control over your spacing, you can use the Paragraph settings dialog box.

Select the Text: As before, select the text you want to double space.
Open Paragraph Settings: Right-click on the selected text and choose “Paragraph” from the context menu. Alternatively, click the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the “Paragraph” group on the “Home” tab.
Adjust Line Spacing: In the “Paragraph” dialog box, go to the “Indents and Spacing” tab. Under “Spacing,” find the “Line spacing” dropdown menu.
Select “Double”: Choose “Double” from the dropdown menu.
Confirm: Click “OK” to apply the double spacing.

Using Styles

Styles provide a consistent and efficient way to format your document.

Modify the “Normal” Style: On the “Home” tab, in the “Styles” group, right-click on the “Normal” style and select “Modify.”
Format Paragraph Settings: In the “Modify Style” dialog box, click the “Format” button at the bottom and choose “Paragraph.”
Set Line Spacing to Double: In the “Paragraph” dialog box, go to the “Indents and Spacing” tab and set the “Line spacing” to “Double.”
Apply to New Documents (Optional): If you want all new documents to use double spacing by default, check the box that says “New documents based on this template.”
Confirm: Click “OK” in both dialog boxes to save the changes.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts (Quick Tip)

While there isn’t a direct keyboard shortcut for double spacing, you can create one using macros, or use a combination of keys to quickly access the paragraph settings.

Select the Text: Select the text you want to format.
Open Paragraph Settings: Use Alt + H + PG to quickly open the Paragraph settings window.
Navigate and Select “Double”: Manually select “Double” in the line spacing dropdown using the arrow keys and pressing enter.

Adjusting Spacing After Paragraphs

Sometimes, you might want to remove extra spacing that Word automatically adds after paragraphs when double spacing.

Open Paragraph Settings: Select the text and open the “Paragraph” settings dialog box (as described above).
Adjust “After” Spacing: In the “Indents and Spacing” tab, under “Spacing,” set the “After” value to “0 pt.”
Confirm: Click “OK” to apply the changes.

Tips for Consistent Formatting

Use Styles Consistently: Applying styles ensures uniformity across your document.
Check Paragraph Settings: Always double-check the “Paragraph” settings to avoid unexpected spacing issues.
Apply Changes to the Entire Document: If you need the whole document to be double-spaced, make sure you select all text (Ctrl + A or Command + A) before applying the changes.
Update Styles as Needed: If you’re working with a template, update the relevant styles to reflect your desired spacing.

Comparison of Double Spacing Methods

Method	Pros	Cons	Best For
Ribbon	Quick and easy for simple double spacing.	Limited control over specific spacing adjustments.	Quick formatting of small sections of text.
Paragraph Settings	More control over spacing, including before and after values.	Requires more steps than using the ribbon.	Precise control over paragraph spacing.
Styles	Ensures consistent formatting throughout the document.	Requires initial setup and understanding of styles.	Maintaining consistent formatting across long documents.
Keyboard Shortcuts	Quick access to paragraph settings.	Requires some manual navigation.	Precise control over paragraph spacing.

Mastering Double Spacing in Word

By understanding the different methods available, you can confidently double space your documents to meet any requirement. Whether you prefer the simplicity of the ribbon or the precision of paragraph settings, mastering these techniques will enhance your document formatting skills.

FAQ

How do I double space only part of a document in Word? Select the specific text you want to double space and then use the “Line and Paragraph Spacing” button on the “Home” tab or the “Paragraph” settings dialog box to apply double spacing to only the selected text.

Why is my Word document not double spacing correctly? Check the “Paragraph” settings for the selected text. Ensure that the “Line spacing” is set to “Double” and that the “Before” and “After” spacing values are set to “0 pt” to avoid extra spacing.

Can I set Word to automatically double space all new documents? Yes, you can modify the “Normal” style and check the box that says “New documents based on this template.” This will ensure that all new documents created using that template will have double spacing by default.

How do I remove double spacing in Word? Select the double-spaced text and go to the “Line and Paragraph Spacing” button on the “Home” tab. Choose “1.0” to set single spacing, or use the “Paragraph” settings to adjust the “Line spacing” to your desired value.

Is there a keyboard shortcut for double spacing in Word? While there isn’t a direct shortcut, you can use Alt + H + PG to quickly open the Paragraph settings window, then navigate and select “Double” in the line spacing dropdown.

Final Thoughts on Line Spacing

Achieving the perfect line spacing in Microsoft Word is now within your reach. With the methods outlined above, you can confidently format your documents to meet any requirement, ensuring clarity and professionalism in your written work.