Where to find line spacing and what it does

Line spacing is the vertical distance between lines of text in a paragraph. In Microsoft Word, you control it through the Paragraph menu, and the change applies when ready to whatever text you have selected. If you select nothing, Word applies the spacing to the paragraph your cursor sits in.

Word offers preset spacing options (single, 1.5 lines, double) and lets you set a custom measurement in points if you need something exact. The spacing you choose affects only the document itself — it does not change how the text looks when someone else opens the file on their computer unless they also have Word.

Key Takeaways

  • Select the text you want to change, then open the Paragraph dialog by pressing Ctrl+0 (zero) on Windows or going to Format > Paragraph on Mac.
  • The Line Spacing dropdown offers single, 1.5 lines, double, and custom options; double spacing is standard for academic papers and legal documents.
  • If you want spacing to explore to your whole document, press Ctrl+A to select all text before opening the Paragraph dialog.
  • Custom line spacing lets you enter a specific point size (like 18 pt) if preset options do not match what you need.

Changing spacing on Windows using the keyboard shortcut

The fastest way on Windows is the keyboard shortcut. Click anywhere in the paragraph you want to change, or select multiple paragraphs by clicking at the start of the first one and dragging to the end of the last one. Then press Ctrl+0 (the zero key, not the letter O).

The Paragraph dialog opens when ready. Look for the Line Spacing dropdown in the middle of the dialog — it usually shows "Single" or whatever spacing is currently applied. Click the dropdown and choose from Single, 1.15 Lines, 1.5 Lines, Double, or At Least. If you want to change your whole document at once, press Ctrl+A first to select all text, then press Ctrl+0.

Changing spacing on Windows using the menu

If the keyboard shortcut does not work or you prefer the menu, select your text first. Then click the Format menu at the top, and choose Paragraph from the dropdown. The Paragraph dialog opens to the same screen as the keyboard shortcut.

You can also right-click on selected text and choose Paragraph from the context menu that appears. All three routes — keyboard, Format menu, or right-click — open the same dialog and work identically.

Changing spacing on Mac

On Mac, select the text you want to change. Then click Format in the menu bar and choose Paragraph. The Paragraph dialog opens on the right side of your screen. Find the Line Spacing dropdown and select your option.

Mac does not have the Ctrl+0 shortcut, so the menu is your main route. You can also right-click selected text and choose Paragraph, which opens the same dialog on the right side.

Understanding the spacing options

Single spacing fits the most text on a page and is standard for business documents and websites. 1.15 Lines is slightly looser and is sometimes used in professional emails. 1.5 Lines and Double spacing add more white space between lines and are required by many schools and publishers — double spacing is especially common in academic papers, legal documents, and manuscript submissions.

If you choose At Least or Exactly, Word lets you enter a custom measurement in points. For example, 18 pt means 18 points of space from the bottom of one line to the bottom of the next. This is useful when you need precise control, such as fitting text into a specific page count or matching a template's exact requirements.

explore spacing to part of a document

You do not have to change your whole document at once. Select only the paragraphs you want to adjust — click at the start of the first paragraph, hold Shift, and click at the end of the last paragraph. Then open the Paragraph dialog and choose your spacing. The change applies only to what you selected.

This is useful when you want single spacing for body text but double spacing for a title, or when you are editing a document where different sections have different requirements. Word remembers your choice, so if you change spacing in one paragraph and then select a different paragraph, the dialog shows what that paragraph currently uses.

Spacing between paragraphs versus spacing between lines

Line spacing and paragraph spacing are two different things. Line spacing is the gap between lines within a single paragraph. Paragraph spacing is the gap between one paragraph and the next. In the Paragraph dialog, you control paragraph spacing with the Before and After fields — these add space above or below the entire paragraph block.

Many people confuse the two. If you want more room between paragraphs, use the Before or After fields. If you want more room between individual lines of text, use the Line Spacing dropdown. Both are in the same dialog, so you can adjust them together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing line spacing in Word affect how the document looks on someone else's computer?

No. Line spacing is part of the document formatting and travels with the file. When someone else opens your Word document, they see the same spacing you set. If they change the spacing, it only changes their copy.

What is the difference between "At Least" and "Exactly" for custom spacing?

"At Least" sets a minimum spacing but allows Word to increase it if a line contains large text or images. "Exactly" locks the spacing to your chosen measurement and does not adjust. Use "Exactly" when you need precise control, such as fitting a specific number of lines on a page.

Can I set a default line spacing so new documents start with my preferred spacing?

Yes. Set up a document with your preferred spacing, then click Format > Paragraph, choose your spacing, and click "Set as Default" at the bottom of the dialog. New documents you create will use that spacing. This does not change existing documents.

Why does my line spacing look different when I print the document?

Check your printer settings. Some printers compress spacing to fit more on a page, or your print preview may display spacing differently than the screen. Print a test page to see the actual result, and adjust spacing in the document itself if needed.