How to Single Space in a Microsoft Word Document?

Microsoft redesigned Word 2007 templates with the mind reader. One of the changes made the text easier to read by adding 15 percent more space between paragraphs. In Word 2003, the space between paragraphs was a single space, and you had to press the “Enter” key twice to create more space between sections. Old habits die hard, and those who want single-line spacing are lucky. Although, when Microsoft released Word 2007, the default line spacing was 1.5. Later versions reduced the default line spacing to 1.08.

The spacing in documents affects several things, including the number of pages. The amount of space between the lines in your document can be controlled using several different options in Microsoft Word.

This risewindows article will explain how to single space in Microsoft word.

How to Adjust the Line Spacing in a Word Document?

Here, using this method, you can adjust the spacing of lines within a paragraph or in a whole document. Use these steps:-

Step 1. First, select the paragraph or entire document (Ctrl+A) you want to change the line spacing. For this example, we have created a document with a line spacing of 1.0.

Step 2. Select the Home tab from the top menu bar.

Step 3. Then, click the Line and Paragraph Spacing button in the Paragraph group. You will see a menu listing various line spacing options.

Quick Note:  You can see the preview of your paragraph in your Word document by hovering the mouse pointer over any option in the drop-down menu “Line and Paragraph Spacing,”

Step 4. After that, choose 2.0 or another option for the line spacing you want to use. The selected paragraph will now be double-line or the spacing you’ve chosen.

So, you can single-space an already double-spaced document using the steps above.

How to Set Single Spacing with Word Paragraph Settings?

This method helps set line spacing within, as well as spacing before and after the paragraph. Perform these steps:-

Step 1. First, open an existing or create a new Word document.

Step 2. Now, select the paragraph you want to change the line spacing for.

Step 3. Then, click the Home tab on the menu bar.

Step 4. After that, click the arrow icon on the bottom right side of the Paragraph group to open the Paragraph dialog box.

Step 5. Then, switch to the Indents and Spacing tab.

Step 6. Now, click on the drop-down menu under Line Spacing in the Spacing section and select Single from the menu.

Step 7. Then, if you want to customize it further, enter the spacing value for Before and After the paragraph in the Spacing section.

Step 8. Finally, click the OK button to exit the Paragraph dialog box.

It now has single-line spacing and other settings according to your preferences.

How to Set Default Line Setting for a New Document?

Using this method, you can set a new document’s default line and paragraph settings. Here are the steps:-

Step 1. First, open a new Word document or an existing one.

Step 2. Click on the Home tab in the menu bar.

Step 3. Then, click on the arrow icon on the bottom right side of the Paragraph group to open the Paragraph dialog.

Step 4. After that, switch to the Indents and Spacing tab.

Step 5. Next, click on the drop-down menu under Line Spacing in the Spacing section and select the preferred line spacing you want to apply for the whole document.

Step 6. If you want to customize it further, enter the spacing value for Before and After the paragraph in the Spacing section.

Step 7. Then, click the Set As Default.

Step 8. A new pop-up window will open. Here you will find these options:-

• This document only – This option will affect your current document only.
• All documents based on the Normal template will affect all new documents you open from now on because your chosen settings will change the Normal template.

Step 9. Finally, click the OK button to exit.

That’s it for the article.

I hope this post will be helpful to you.

Good luck & keep learning, guys.