How to Make a Hanging Indent in Word

What is a Hanging Indent?

A hanging indent makes the first line of a paragraph start further to the left than the following lines, creating a visual separation between the first line and the rest of the text.

Why Use a Hanging Indent?

Hanging indents are commonly used:

• To highlight the first line of a paragraph
• To create a bulleted or numbered list where the bullet or number aligns with the first line, not the subsequent lines
• In bibliographies and references

Creating a Hanging Indent in Microsoft Word

Step 1: Select the Paragraph

Highlight the paragraph you want to format.

Step 2: Open the Paragraph Settings

Go to the "Home" tab, click the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the "Paragraph" group, and select "Paragraph."

Step 3: Adjust Indentation Settings

In the "Indentation" section of the Paragraph dialog box:

• Under "Special," select "Hanging."
• Adjust the "By" value to specify how far you want the first line to be indented.

Step 4: Click "OK"

The selected paragraph will now have a hanging indent.

Additional Notes:

• You can also create a hanging indent using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + T.
• To remove a hanging indent, simply select the paragraph and set the "Special" indentation option back to "None" in the Paragraph dialog box.

Example

Here is an example of a paragraph with a hanging indent:

This is a paragraph with a hanging indent. As you can see, the first line starts further to the left than the following lines.

Conclusion

Creating a hanging indent in Microsoft Word is a simple but effective way to add visual interest and organization to your documents. Whether you're using it for a formal report, a bulleted list, or a bibliography, a hanging indent can help enhance the readability and impact of your text.

How To Make A Hanging Indent In Word